The Toolkit Curriculum:

Finnish Early Education Curriculum for any kindergarten in the world

The Toolkit is a play-based curriculum inspired by the National Core Curriculum of Finland. Any kindergarten or preschool wishing to implement Finnish-style learning can easily implement the Toolkit curriculum. The Curriculum can be localized and it's learning objectives comply with Asian, Middle Eastern and American standards.  Watch the short video to learn more!

What's Inside the Toolkit?

Introduction to Finnish ECE-1

Introduction to Finnish ECE

To orient your teachers to the Finnish style of learning, the Toolkit includes an entire module of theoretical and practical materials. It covers the main principles and values of teaching children the Finnish way. Teachers also learn how to support children in their individual learning journeys and ways to ensure a safe, secure learning environment with a daily flow and routines.

daily lesson plans

Monthly program with daily lesson plans

This section provides a monthly themed program for three different age groups: Tiny Tots (1 - 2 years old), Eager Explorers (3-4 years old) and Lively Learners (5-6 years old).  In the program  you find ready-made materials and ideas for circle time, main learning activities, story time, outdoor and free play, field trips, musical moments and a lot more.  Implementing play-based activities was never this easy!

 

materials for babies

Learning materials for babies

The “Bright Babies” package is built for children ages 4 to 12 months. It supports babies' playful learning by offering suggestions for the learning environment, ideas for sensory play and other activities. It includes tips about how to add pedagogy to daily caretaking moments and a self-study section to help teachers learn more about babies’ growth and development with topics such as ensuring a smooth start and establishing warm interactions. 

 

Pre-primary prep lesson plans

Pre-primary preparatory lesson plans

This section helps teachers prepare their oldest students for the transition from early learning to primary school. It provides project- and play-based learning activities with an emphasis on linguistic and mathematical skills. The learning objectives of the pre-primary package are tailored to the  international school entry standards typical in Southeast Asia. 

 

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Tools, templates and extra resources

Your teachers will get access a variety of tools for observation, assessment and planning. These easy-to-use forms are printable and adaptable to your local needs. The Toolkit also includes educational articles and webinars, as well as first access to live events and trainings hosted by HEI Schools. 

 

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Self-study materials for teachers

The Toolkit provides thematic materials each month to enrich teachers’ daily practices. It includes the latest research and articles, practical video guidance, and tasks for teachers to apply what they learned. Topics such as group management, positive pedagogy and STEAM education comprise this section.

 

HEI School Toolkit Stamp

Marketing materials

To support your marketing efforts, the Toolkit includes a Toolkit logo and other marketing materials that help you explain the Finnish method to families and advertise that you are using the progressive approach at your school.

 

See inside the Toolkit

Toolkit activity screen mockup - new

Daily activity plans based on Finnish ECE

Toolkit screen mockups templates - new

Templates and forms that support teachers' daily work

Toolkit screen mockups - new

Marketing materials to help you stand out with Finnish ECE

Success stories from our customers

See all success stories
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"We experienced a 15 % increase in the early program enrollment after the first year of using the toolkit."

Spectrum International Schools, Malaysia

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"The toolkit has restored and renewed my passion and energy as an educator!”

Beta Academy, USA

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"Our teachers no longer have to use their holidays planning activities!"

Montessori Schools, Kenya

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"With the Toolkit, it’s all done for you. I am sure it will cut down on preparation time for teachers.”

E=MC2, South Africa

Frequently Asked Questions

Do the activities inside the program cater to different age groups?

Yes. We provide tailored activities for the following three different age groups: 

  • 1-2 year-old children, called Tiny Tots
  • 3-4 year-old children, called Eager Explorers
  • 5-6 year-old children, called Lively Learners

In addition to these, you can also find suitable activities for children who will soon start their school journey in the package called “Pre-Primary Materials" which focuses on mathematics and linguistic skills and includes activity plans that support children’s school readiness abilities. The learning objectives of the Pre-Primary package are  tailored to meet the requirements of Asian international schools. 

There’s also a special section for babies (4-12 months old) called “Bright Babies”.

Does the Monthly Program of HEI Toolkit completely cover our needs for curriculum content?

The Toolkit materials includes activity plans per day for each age group, and it can be used as a stand-alone curriculum at your school. It is built based on the requirements of early childhood education of Finland and follows the main principles of the Finnish national curriculum.

The Pre-Primary package provides an extensive package of mathematical and linguistic activities, designed to foster learning of the school readiness skills needed in many Asian countries. 

The Curriculum is built in a way that it is easy to localize. 

How do I localize the curriculum? Will I get support in localizing and implementing the Toolkit at my school?

We provide different tools to help you with localization, including a matrix of learning areas with learning objectives and targets per age group. By comparing these targets and learning outcomes to your local needs and requirements you can modify the activities we provide to suit your local curriculum.

HEI Schools pedagogical team helps you get started with the Toolkit curriculum. We provide a monthly onboarding calls for teachers and we also provide a 1:1 implementation call with your principal. We are able to guide you through the implementation process and for additional fee, we can train your entire team to deliver play-based learning.  If you are interested in our training options, please visit our Toolkit trainings. 

Combining the Toolkit with the HEI Schools Teacher Diploma course is also an excellent choice. The Diploma course gives your teachers a deeper understanding of the Finnish play-based education methods and they learn how to effectively implement the methods in the classroom with the help of practical assignments. The Diploma is available in English, Spanish and Mandarin

Is there any way to test the Toolkit to see how it works in practice?

First step is to book a meeting with our Partnership team for a demo presentation. During the demo we also discuss your needs and explain the implementation process. 

Is it possible to get teacher training when purchasing the Toolkit?

Yes, HEI Schools offers an online or on-site training option that complements the Toolkit. The training focuses on the principles of play-based education and  how to implement them in practice with the help of the Toolkit curriculum. Please contact the partnerships team for details and prices at sales@heischools.com

Can I use the HEI Schools name in my advertising and communication?

No, you cannot call your school as a “HEI Schools”.  However, you'll be able to advertise that you are using the Toolkit curriculum and pedagogy from Finland.

To make things easier for you, inside the Toolkit platform we provide a marketing kit for your school to advertise that you are using the Toolkit Curriculum.

If you are interested in operating a kindergarten or nursery under the HEI Schools brand, learn more about that offering on the Learning Center product page

Can I implement this program if I am already implementing another curriculum?

The Toolkit Curriculum can be combined with other curriculums and approaches.  You can use the Toolkit as an enrichment to your main program as it's a great learning material resource to teachers.

 

Do you need to make changes to the school facilities and or purchase specific materials when using the Toolkit?

No specific changes are needed. All the materials used in the Toolkit activities are ones that can usually be found in the classrooms.

Learn how the Toolkit can be implemented at your kindergarten

Get in touch with us and we will be happy to tell you more about the Toolkit Curriculum and the learning materials, assessment tools and training materials it includes.