Description
Would you like to experience early childhood education in Finland yourself?
In Finland the world-class education path begins with world-class early childhood education**. Finnish quality early childhood education lays basis for excellent learning outcomes in Finnish basic education. Early childhood education and care, pre-primary and basic education form an integrated whole progressing consistently following the child’s development.
Early childhood has very different goals in Finland compared to many other countries: in Finland early childhood education supports children’s balanced growth, development and learning, not just academic objectives. The Finnish early childhood education is research-based and is organized according to children’s natural growth and development. Learning through play is essential. It all begins in the early childhood.
This Early Childhood Education And Care Study Tour gives you the opportunity to experience the miracle of Finnish early childhood education yourself! During the study tour you will be able to visit Finnish kindergartens and daycare centers and witness yourself how this top-quality education is carried out in practice. The whole week you will be guided by expert lecturers and hosts and you will acquire an insight what are the principles early childhood education in Finland is based on.
** In Finland early childhood education is provided for children between 0-5 years. Pre-primary education is compulsory for children of the age of six. Basic education starts in the year when a child turns seven.
Target groups: early childhood educators, headmasters / principals, teachers, anyone who is interested in the Finnish early childhood education
Objectives: The program gives visitors an overview of the Finnish education system and early childhood education as an integral part of it. Themed Study Tour introduces the founding principles in Finnish Early Childhood Education and how it is implemented in action. The program also offers an up-close and personal view of daily life in the Finnish day care centers.
Review: Early Childhood Education Study Tour by Learning Scoop in Brainfeed Magazine
Next pre-scheduled tour dates:
March 3rd-7th 2025
September 15th-19th 2025
On request for groups, contact us!
Where: Tampere, Finland. Download Digital Travel Guide to get local tips!
Feedback: Read more here
Finnish ECEC, What is a child’s good day made of?
Daily program on Study Tour at 9am – 3pm
Monday: Introduction to the Finnish Education System
- Finnish Education system
- Introduction to the principles behind the education system
- Paradoxes of Finnish Education: Less is More, No dead ends etc.
- Early childhood education as part of the whole education system
- Visit to a primary school
Tuesday: Early childhood education and care (ECEC) in Finland
- Educare model: care, education and teaching to support children’s balanced growth, development and learning
- Different forms of daycare and early childhood education in Finland
- The funding and fees for daycare
- Legislation and norms guiding ECEC operations in Finland
- National Core Curriculum for ECEC in Finland: areas of learning and transversal competencies
- Pre-primary education as a link between early childhood education and school
- Visit to a day care center
Wednesday: ECEC promoting learning
- Learning through play
- Intrinsic motivation as a basis of learning
- Child-centered pedagogy: inquiry-based learning, hands-on learning, small group activities, versatile learning environments
- Children as actors influencing ECEC: involvement and participation
- Visit to a day care center
- Finnish Nature Experience or Dinner at Näsinneula Observation Tower
Thursday: Individual support in early childhood education
- Early childhood education based on child’s individual needs
- Integration and inclusion in ECEC
- Categories and forms of support
- Observation and documentation
- Child’s individual ECEC plan
- Visit to a forest day care center or themed day care center
Friday: Co-operation in ECEC
- Multi-professional co-operation to support the child’s growth and development
- Team work and collaboration
- Co-operation with parents in ECEC
- Co-operation with school in ECEC: transition between ECE and pre-primary education
- Evaluation and reflection of the program
- Farewell lunch
This is an example program. Minor changes to content and schedule are possible.
Visits include:
- Guided visits to Finnish day care centers and pre-primary education
- Different types of early childhood education facilities
- Observation and participation in the day care center’s day-to-day activities, meal time, outdoor activities etc.
- Opportunities to talk with teachers and children
Trainers: Learning Scoop is a Finnish company working in the fields of education and training. The staff comprises experienced teachers and early childhood education experts, who have received excellent feedback on their work.
The trainers at Learning Scoop have years of teaching experience gained through the Finnish educational community and through teacher training. Learning Scoop trainers have received outstanding feedback for their well-executed and inspiring training sessions and study visits.
Learning Scoop’s Study Tours were awarded as as the most authentic Finnish educational travel products and the best professional programs for teachers.
Costs: The price for individual participant is 1450e+ possible VAT 25,5% / person (please ask if VAT applies)
Group prices:
10-14 participants in a group the price is 1300e+ possible VAT 25,5% / person (please ask if VAT applies)
15-20 participants in a group the price is 1200e+ possible VAT 25,5% / person (please ask if VAT applies)
The program includes lectures and workshops, study material, visits and transportation to visit places, expert hosts, coffee, lunches, Finnish Nature Experience or Dinner at Näsinneula Observation Tower, Book Finnish Education in Practice: What, Why and How, Premium version of LessonApp for free for a year, farewell lunch and certificate of participation.
Please note that accommodation is not included in the price.
Accommodation:
We are happy to collaborate with Lapland Hotels which offers you a chance to experience Lapland in the heart of a city. The centrally located hotels ares close to our training premises. The design of the rooms was influenced by nature and the stories of Lapland. The restaurant serves unique tastes of Nordic nature and Lapland in visually pleasing dishes.
Lapland Hotels offer fixed prices for our customers accordingly:
Lapland Hotels Tampere, Address Yliopistonkatu 44, Tampere:
Room in Comfort Class for 1 person 112€/night in 2024 (118€ in 2025)
Room in Comfort Class for 2 persons 132€/night in 2024 (138€ in 2025)
Lapland Hotels Arena, Address Ratapihankatu 54, Tampere:
Room in Comfort Class for 1 person 122€/night in 2024 (128€ in 2025)Room in Comfort Class for 2 persons 142€/night in 2024 (148€ in 2025)
Prices include buffet breakfast with local delicacies, taxes, sauna and wireless internet connection.
Check the availability and book your room at Lapland Hotels in Tampere by email sales.tampere@laplandhotels.com with code “LEARNINGSCOOP”
Check out our other study tours too: Arctic Pedagogy Study Tour, Principal Study Tour, and Basic Education Study Tour!
Contact information:
info@learningscoop.fi
Free play as the cornerstone of Early days, versatile learning environments, child-initiated activities, pedagogy supporting curiosity and well-being. Click on the video below!
How was a study tour in Finland by Learning Scoop?
ECEC Study Tour Participant –
I wanted to thank you for a phenomenal week! I left the USA very tired and angry with a system that pushes children to learn in a timetable that is not respectful of their development. I almost quit this year because of it. Then, I got to Finland and learned about the thoughtful and empathic methods employed by the very dedicated, serious, and kind teachers and I have hope again! If I can bring some of what you do to teachers in the US, I will feel that I have contributed beyond my individual relationships with students and families.
ECEC Study Tour Participant March 2019 –
My experience in Tampere was excellent! I felt the different visits provided a variety of experiences and showed the consistency in how the educational system gives similar opportunities to children, regardless of their location or facilities, what counts is the quality of education the system ensures to provide.
Overall the knowledge and expertise of trainers was rich and evident. They accomplished to cover all the information and theoretical part of the tour.
Thank you for an amazing week of learning!
ECEC Study Tour Nov 2019 participant –
The past week was amazing and the best professional development I have ever attended. Being able to have a more back and forth discussion and have all of our questions answered made it so valuable. We found the entire week and the information presented to be very well organized with a warm touch! Everyone at all the schools were so welcoming and so willing to share all of their ideas. We enjoyed every minute of the week and are excited to share.
It was a pleasure to meet you and the rest of the Learning Scoop staff as well as all of the teachers, principals and children from the daycares. Many, many thanks for a wonderful week. We hope to see you again for more training!
Early Childhood Education and Care Study Tour November 2019 –
I truly enjoyed the whole Study Tour. I’ve been telling friends and family how professional and caring everybody is. Everything was top notch! I’ve been to different conferences and your Study Group is special. I like that we were able to talk to students, parents, teachers and managers. When your team was saying that there is no atmosphere of “hierarchy” in schools, I really felt that. Everything you mentioned in your presentation came to life when we visited the day care centers. For instance, when you said that teachers are trusted, I could see that during our visits. The managers were not afraid to let us go around on our own and did not feel the need to justify things happening in their school. Additionally, when we visited a classroom with the manager, teachers continued what they were doing and didn’t feel the need to be on their toes and “put on a show” for visitors. I liked that the most because as a preschool teacher, I always worry that visitors (parents, teachers or administrators) won’t understand what I’m doing simply because there is no “shared understanding” of what preschool should look like. It’s amazing that everybody is on the same page there in Finland. What an amazing place to be in! No matter where we went, the teachers seem to share the same understanding of what is truly important in Early Childhood. No matter what center we visited, the teachers were consistent in their actions and ideas (that they shared with us). Nobody was putting on a show or trying to impress us. The adults were there with the kids FIRST in their minds.