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Starting basic education one year earlier than enacted

Children usually start school the year they turn seven years old. Sometimes it may be in your child’s best interests to start basic education already the year they turn six years old. In other words, it is possible to bring forward your child’s start of school by one year, if necessary.

You can apply for your child to start their compulsory education at the age of six. The application will be addressed to the headmaster of the school closest to your address. The headmaster makes the decision on pupil admission. The matter is always examined multi-professionally and thoroughly. A psychologist’s and, if necessary, a physician’s report must always be attached to the application.

If your child is in early childhood education, the early childhood education teacher draws up a pedagogical description of your child’s situation. The psychologist and, if necessary, the physician will take the description received from early childhood education into account in their statement. The school’s headmaster also has access to the pedagogical description.

Instructions

If your child is in early childhood education, contact your child’s pre-primary education teachers to enquire about starting school one year earlier than enacted. Fill in the application form and attach the required professional statements. Submit the application to the headmaster of the school closest to your home address.

The other guardians will fill in the application form, attach the psychologist’s and, if necessary, the physician’s report to it and submit the application to the headmaster of the school closest to your home address. For more information on schools and school admission areas, visit Customer Service Centre Winkki or the city’s map service.

Payment information

The service is free of charge.

The guardian is responsible for the possible costs of the required professional statements.

Service background and legislation

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