Coming with a Family [City of Tampere]

Families and children find themselves at the heart of our society, making Tampere a great place to raise a family. We ensure safety and wellbeing of families through laws focused on parents’ and children’s rights. Family is important to us in Finland and we do our best to provide the best support and assistance for families. Among the many benefits for families, are a combined parental leave and parental allowance (vanhempainraha), and flexible and reasonable working hours, which allows you to spend more quality time with your loved ones.

Playgrounds are abundant throughout Tampere, making it convenient for parents to entertain their children. It's common to see young children walking around unsupervised or using public transport alone, reflecting our emphasis on fostering independence and the trust in a safe environment for children to grow and explore.

Services for Families

One of the many benefits of living in Finland is having a combined 14-months of parental leave, so that both parents can have plenty of time to bond with the new baby. We believe that if parents are happy, their family life will be as well. If you are employed you are entitled to receive 320 working days parental allowance, and both parents are entitled to half of the allowance or 160 days of the parental allowance period. In addition to this, the birthing parent will get a pregnancy leave for up to 40 days.

Finland provides a lot of support and services for mothers-to-be and new mothers, from consultancy regarding pregnancy, childbirth and taking care of a new baby to interpreter for your childbirth and free health and dental care for your children up to 15 years old. There are maternity clinics (äitiysneuvola), mother and child health clinics (neuvola) available at your local health centre (terveysasema). The neuvola service provides pregnancy consultations, advice about childbirth and how to take care of a new baby. They also offer pre- and post-partum mental health counseling and many other beneficial services.

In Finland, we do our best to ensure the comfort and convenience for a family with a newborn baby. Therefore, a family who is registered with a permanent municipal residency (EU or non-EU) can choose to claim either a maternity grant or a maternity package if you are giving birth here in Finland.

If your child is registered as a resident in a municipal, he/she has the right to free public health services. The parents also have the right to stay at home to take care of a sick child for up to 4 days, please check the respective collective agreement or your company’s HR to find out if it will be a paid or unpaid leave

The wellbeing services county of Pirkanmaa is responsible for the healthcare, social, and rescue services for the residents of the Pirkanmaa region. There are many services available for children, young people and families.

The neuvola manages the child’s health visits up to the age of 6. This includes tracking the child’s growth and development, vaccinations and doctor appointments. Children receive free health and dental care up to 15-years-old.

It's also important to remember that you always have the right to a translator or interpreter. You are the most important advocate for your health and your children's health, and we do not want language to be a barrier in your pursuit of wellbeing.

Finland strives to be inclusive by ensuring that the best possible care and services are available to those who requires them. There are many services that can help you in your everyday life with a disability or illness in Finland. These services include, for example, transportation and assistant services. If you are registered here with a permanent local address, you may be entitled to disability services.

The allowance and services are divided in 3 tiers:

In Finland, there are several organisations which strive to improve the status of disabled individuals by offering advice, assistance with service applications, leisure activities, and peer support. Hilma is a support centre for internationals with disabilities, provides service coordination and counseling for disabled internationals and those with chronic diseases.

Tampere region offers counselling services for people with disabilities. You can contact them via phone or email and they will advise you regarding your individual needs.

Education

Finland's educational system is one of the most advanced globally, the goal is to provide everyone with equal access to high-quality education regardless of family income. Preschool, basic education, and upper secondary education are all free of charge, and higher education is largely free as well. Children start first grade in the year they turn seven. Before this, they attend early childhood education, which often includes several years of daycare (päiväkoti) and one year of pre-primary education (esikoulu; eskari) in the year the child turns six. In Finland, Comprehensive Education is referred to as Basic Education (perusopetus), which includes grades 1–9. Basic Education consists of primary school (alakoulu) for grades 1–6 and lower secondary school (yläkoulu) for grades 7–9. After completing Basic Education, your child will continue either to general upper secondary school (lukio) for grades 10–12 or to vocational education and training (ammatillinen koulutus). Compulsory education ends when the student turns 18 or graduates from upper secondary level before the age of 18. For more information on higher and vocational education, please refer to the ‘Studying’ section of this guide.

If your child’s native language is not Finnish and you plan to enroll them in a local school in Tampere region, the municipality you live in offers preparatory education for children aged 7 to 16 with a foreign background. This program helps children who lack sufficient Finnish skills to join the local basic education studies. During preparatory education, children will learn about Finnish schooling in various ways and develop the necessary Finnish language skills and competencies to transition into the local basic education studies.

The weekly hours for preparatory education in Tampere vary by grade and individual instruction programs. Teaching occurs both in dedicated groups and integrated basic education lessons. During this period, your child’s learning skills and special needs are assessed. At the end of the typically one-year program, which can be adjusted as needed, the students are placed in a basic education grade suitable to their abilities. After completing preparatory education, they will move to their local school.

If the distance to the preparatory school exceeds the limit defined in the school transport bulletin, the City of Tampere will pay for transportation.

If your child's native language is not Finnish, they are entitled to study Finnish as a Second Language and Literature (S2) curriculum (Äidinkieli S2) throughout their basic education if needed. This curriculum specifically aims to support the development of multilingualism and to foster a lifelong development in language skills. In addition to S2 teaching, pupils have the right to receive remedial instruction in other subjects as needed. Efforts are also made to provide support in the student’s native language whenever possible.

We encourage you to discuss this with the teacher and get all of the necessary information to make an informed choice before choosing S2 curriculum.

Get to know study options for multilingual children

Your child may register for optional language classes in their native language if:

their native language or a language spoken in the family is a language other than Finnish or Swedish
they are Finnish returnees who have acquired command of another language abroad (maintenance teaching in a language learned abroad)

This program is for preschool and basic education students living in the Tampere region who already have sufficient language skills to participate in native language programme. It is not designed for learning a new language. Native language programme is free of charge and optional, the school is not responsible for the transportation costs or transportation arrangements.

Get to know the native language programme

The City of Tampere provides international/bilingual preschool and basic education in French, German, and English. The goal of bilingual education is for students to reach good language skills in both the school’s teaching language (Finnish) and the target language (English, French, or German) through teaching various subjects in both languages and using both languages in everyday activities at school outside of the actual lessons as well.

Bilingual education is equally intended for all students regardless of their native language. Enrolment is also open for the children of families moving to Tampere region from abroad who speak the target language of the bilingual programme of the school. For them, the programme offers the opportunity to continue to pursue their education in that language.

French language bilingual education is available at Wivi Lönn School, German at Tammela and Sampo schools, and English at the Finnish International School of Tampere (FISTA). Swedish language education is provided by Svenska samskolan i Tammerfors.

Information on admissions, registration and schools

The school year in Finland is divided into autumn and spring terms. In addition to general public holidays, there are autumn, winter, and Easter breaks. The summer holiday lasts for about 10 weeks. School days run from Monday to Friday, with no classes on Saturdays except for the final days of the autumn and spring terms. The schools usually announce the exact start dates via Wilma.

Latest school holidays schedule

Finnish Education Key Words

Daycare centre: päiväkoti (one facility with larger groups of children)

Group family daycare: ryhmäpäiväkoti (one facility with smaller groups)

Family daycare: perhepäivähoito (one care provider looking after a few children in a home)

Monthly daycare fees: varhaiskasvatusmaksu

School: koulu

Local school: lähikoulu

Pre-primary education (kindergarten): esikoulu or more familiarly, eskari

Basic education: Perusopetus

Comprehensive school (grades 1-9): yhtenäiskoulu

Primary school (grades 1-6): alakoulu

Lower secondary school (grades 7-9): yläkoulu

Upper secondary school (grades 10-12): lukio

Vocational education and training: ammatillinen koulutus

Daycare and early childhood education

Starting daycare or early childhood education is a big milestone both for parents and children! Deciding on what kind of childcare suits both your child and your circumstances isn’t always easy and depends on many factors. For instance, would you like a nature focused daycare where the children spend a lot of time outdoors? Would you prefer a bilingual setting where your child will be exposed to another language? Would you rather that your child was home with you some days and attends a part time playgroup at certain times during the week? These are all possibilities that can be explored and considered, thanks to the wide variety of daycare and early childhood education services available in Tampere!

Tampere has 79 municipal daycare centres, that provide whole-day and part-time day care as well as shift and evening care. A child’s care days and hours are arranged together with the parents. In addition to municipal day care centres, there are multiple private daycare centres.

All early childhood education programmes follow specific pedagogical goals, but the emphasis is on socialisation and play. There also play club activities Intended for children age 2-4 and activities are held at playgrounds and daycare centres. These are usually held 1-3 days per week.

A typical day at daycare:

6:15-8:30: Children arrive
8:00: Breakfast is served
8:30-11:00: Outdoor play, playing indoors and other planned activities
11:00: Lunch is served – followed by a nap
14:00: Snacks are served
14:30-17:00: Outdoor play, playing indoors and other planned activities
15:30-17:00: Children go home

If you are looking for a daycare group in a language other than Finnish, there are for example:

English-speaking daycare at Sunshine Early Learning Centre
English-speaking daycare at The English School of Tampere aka “Enkku”
Bilingual (Finnish & French) group at Amurin päiväkoti Amuri Daycare Centre | www.tampere.fi
Bilingual (Finnish & German) speaking group at Kissanmaan päiväkoti

If you want to choose this option for your child, you may want to investigate where these specific centres are located and make this a consideration when looking for a place to live.

Daycare centres in the Tampere region are closed on national holidays, but typically stay open during school holidays.

Get familiar with the different daycares in Tampere

Find out more about Early childhood education and pre-primary education operating time and holidays

A child beginning his or her childcare journey here in Finland, will need certain clothing and accessories to equip them for all weathers! These essentials will also be useful going forward, at school. A quick checklist includes:

Waterproof clothes: This usually includes waterproof jacket, trousers, gloves and boots – These will be kept at the daycare.
Wool overall: This is essential for the winter months to wear as a layer under a snowsuit
Snowsuit/snow coat and trousers: Some children prefer to wear suits while some like a separate coat and trousers
Slippers: These will be worn indoors as outdoor shoes are not allowed to be worn indoors
Hats and balaclavas: Wool hat or balaclava for winter months, a lighter beanie style hat for mid-season
Gloves: Wool/fleece lined gloves for winter, lighter gloves for midseason and waterproof gloves for rainy days
Neck warmers: Wool/fleece neck warmer for winter, lighter cotton one for mid-season
Snow boots/mid season boots: Insulated snow boots for winter, goretex lighter boots for mid-season
Change of clothes: At least a couple of sets!
Rucksack: To use for trips to the forest and bring art work home in!
Water bottle: To be kept at daycare
Sunglasses, suncream, sunhat: For those sunny, warm days in summer

Fun facts!

Children will go out to play in all weathers – even in the depths of winter it has to reach -15 degrees before children stay indoors!
Lunch is provided every day and regular menu items include items such as salmon soup and rye bread, mince meat pasta and potatoes with sausage
After eating, children are given a ‘Xylitol’ a type of gum that helps to clean their teeth
Comfortable slippers are worn indoors, this helps with cleanliness and makes the child feel more at home

The fees for daycare and early childhood education are determined by the education authority, and are calculated by assessing a family’s household income, the size of the family, how many hours per week and the needs of your child. These tend to be very reasonable in comparison to other countries, making it very commonplace for a child to attend childcare 5 days a week in Finland. If the family has a very low income, early childhood education may be free of charge. You are also entitled to some allowance depending on the family situation, such as:

Child home care allowance is provided if one of the parents or, for example, a relative takes care of the child/children at home and the youngest child is under 3.
Private day care allowance is provided through Kela if the child’s care provider is a private service supplier approved by the municipal authority.

Once you have registered your right of residence in your municipality, you can apply for a place in a public or private daycare centre for your child. The earliest a child can begin attending a daycare is when they are approximately nine months old. Apply for a municipal early childhood education place from your municipality at least four months before your child is due to start day care. A place can be granted within two weeks if the parents get a job or a student position.

Applications for municipal early childhood education and care, private daycare via service voucher or purchased service, as well as early childhood education club activities, are filed using the eVaka Tampere online service. An early childhood education and care placement may also be terminated using the service.

You can get more information and apply by contacting Early Childhood and Preschool Education Customer Service.

Email [email protected]
Tel. 040 800 7260, calls Mon–Fri 9 am – 12 am
Opening hours of the office: Mon–Fri 9 am – 4 pm
Frenckellinaukio 2B
33101 Tampere

Get more info on application process

Did you know that the schools provide free food?

Meals are provided for free to children and students throughout the educational system. Day care children typically receive breakfast, lunch, and an afternoon snack. If your child attends a part-time play club (kerho), you may be asked to pack a meal. The weekly menus can be found at Menu - Pirkanmaan Voimia Oy (voimia.fi)

Pre-Primary School and Basic Education

Children in Finland typically begin their compulsory education with pre-primary school, followed by 9 years of basic education. Every child who is a permanent resident of Finland must participate in compulsory education. These compulsory school years are free of charge, and students receive free meals at school. If a child lives more than 5 km away or has a challenging route to school, they are provided with free transportation up to primary school.

Pre-primary education, also known as preschool or "eskari" in colloquial Finnish, supports a child's learning, participation, development, and growth. It aims to strengthen self-esteem, provide positive learning experiences, and offer opportunities for various interactions with peers. Children are introduced to school learning during the year of pre-primary. There will be many opportunities for children to engage in shared activities with their older peers at the local school.

Parents normally enroll their children in pre-primary education in January or February. Make sure to check the time well in advance with your local school services (koulutoimi) or education services (sivistystoimi).

Basic education are divided into primary (alakoulu) and lower secondary (yläkoulu) schools and it typically begins when a child is 7 years old and continues until they have completed the entire syllabus, or until the end of the school year in which they turn 17. Teaching, required textbooks, learning materials, and any necessary tools and equipment are provided to pupils in basic education free of charge.

Get to know the basic education schools in Tampere: Studies in basic education | www.tampere.fi

In addition to the schools maintained by the city, there are also privately-run basic education schools. Please contact them individually for information on fees, admission and other information:

Tampereen Steinerkoulu: Tampere Rudolf Steiner school (tampereensteinerkoulu.fi)
Svenska Samskolan: The Swedish Comprehensive School (samskolan.fi)
Tampere Christian School in Aitolahti: Tampereen kristillinen koulu (takriko.fi)
Steinerkoulu Tammer: Steinerkoulu Tammer on valmis aloittamaan | Tampereen seudun steinerkouluyhdistys (steinertammer.fi)
Tampere University Teacher Training School: In English – Tampereen yliopiston normaalikoulu (tuni.fi)

Upper Secondary Education

The City of Tampere offers general upper secondary education for approximately 4,000 students in upper secondary day schools and for 600 students in a general upper secondary school for adults.

There are six city-maintained general upper secondary schools and a general upper secondary school for adults in Tampere. Additionally, there is Normaalikoulun lukio (Teacher Training School of the University of Tampere), which is a state-maintained general upper secondary school for day students, where teacher training also takes place. There are also four privately-run general upper secondary schools. Furthermore, in the city-maintained general upper secondary school of Tampereen lyseon lukio, it is possible to choose the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme.

Starting in August 2026, the City of Tampere will offer an English-language upper secondary education program for students who have completed their basic education. Learn more about Pyynikin lukio English study program.

More information on General upper secondary education.

Tampere Vocational College Tredu is a regional upper secondary level vocational college with approx. 17 000 students. Tredu has 14 different locations across the Pirkanmaa region and offers a wide range of vocational and further qualifications. Find out more about Tredu here.

Other Vocational Institutions in Tampere City Region

Tampere Adult Education Centre offers integration training for migrants and vocational training in Finnish language.
SASKY Municipal Education and Training Consortium offers vocational education and training in 12 different locations in the Tampere City Region.
Tampere Conservatoire offers music and dance education from early childhood education all the way to full time vocational education.
Varala Sports Institute is an official education provider in the field of physical education and sports.

More information on General upper secondary education [City of Tampere].

Networking, mentoring and professional development for spouses

The Hidden Gems initiative and its activities aim to facilitate networking and full integration of international spouses in the Tampere Region. Furthermore, the Hidden Gems initiative promotes growth and internationalisation by enabling local companies to tap into the “hidden” expertise of spouses.

Hidden Gems - Empowering International Spouses