FINLAND FACTS AND FIGURES

What we can learn from other countries: FinlandThe context of their ECEC and Kindergarten curricula

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4POPULATION5.3 MillionAverage density 17 per sq km. Most sparse in EUCurrent life expectancy: men 76.3, women 83.0 yearsAverage household 2.1 persons55% of households in single family homes and 45% in apartment blocksLow perinatal mortalityTFR 1.75Languages91% Finnish (an Ugric language: Suomi)5.4% Swedish

Finland is bilingual by legislation and custom

English widely spoken

Sami languages (Lap) in the north6

7Religion81% are Lutheran, yet Lutheranism seems to sit very lightly on their pagan past

1% Orthodox

A republic with no official ties to monarch or church8

9Education78% of population have completed upper secondary or tertiary education35% have university or other similar qualifications (Highest in EU)Repeatedly top in PISA studiesHighest percentage literacy in the 30 OECD countriesAll education, including university, is freeChildcare free, or means tested, till age 7State all-age comprehensive school 7 to 18 years10Education (cont)Reverence for educationKindergarten teachers very well trained, often with higher school grade averages than lawyers or medics. Frequently with M A (30%+)School meals for all, free, since 1950sNo real private education, though specialist groups existNo official curriculum until age seven, though broad guidelines of principle for ECEC and also for KindergartenMuch child choice and many project approaches to early learning. Childcare usually integrated.11 Playtime

12GovernmentSovereign parliamentary republic since 1917Part of the Russian empire from 1809-1917 and before that part of Sweden for centuriesPresident elected every six yearsTarja Halonen, female, elected for second term in 2006200 members of parliament elected every 4 years; several parties, coalition usual.Member of EU since 199513

14Finnish working life85.3% of women employed outside the homeUnemployment rate 8%Generous social supportFree medical treatment (v high standard)High taxes, base tax effectively 52%High standard of living Per capita GDP... in top four OECD countriesAnnual inflation rate (2009) -0.5%15EconomyGDP, 2008 was 187.0 billion Euros25% of exports are electronic and optical21% are wood and pulp products25% machinery and metal productsGermany, Russia, Sweden, UK and USA take bulk of exports16

17 Area, geography, miscellaneousOne third of country above the Arctic Circle9% lakes of fresh water6% of land under cultivation68% of the country in forestsCapital is Helsinki (1 million)Five other major cities99% of families have cell phones75% have personal computerBears and wolves and reindeer in north18

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Maisemaa, Finland, early autumn20The northernmost university in the world, Lapland, Rovaniemi

21ECEC and Pre-primary (Kindergarten)Social policy is the frame for early years educationAll 6-7 yr old Finns entitled to free Kindergarten/preschool curriculum.This can be in day-care, 1 to 7yrs, or in school. 6 to 18.Parents choose where for under sevens; 80+% opt for day care (age six to seven)50% of children under three in day care ; 40% at home (special allowances) 4% private, but paid for (figures approx)Private day care is where parents organise it themselves. They have to act like state day care....not for profitMunicipal day care organised by and responsibility of local authorities. (Municipalities)

22Day care (cont)Child home care attracts an allowance of 295 Euros pm(2008) and the allowance is part of maternity/paternity benefit. Usually it is accessed in the childs first year and the child then goes full or part-time (choice) to day care. (approx a third go part-time up to 6yrs, but part time is usually quite substantial)

STAFF are multidisciplinary because it is ECECOne third of ECEC staff have degrees ,including Masters degrees. New (2008) regs insist ALL have special lengthy vocational training. Many also with Polytechnic degrees. This increasing, too.23The road to school, Rovaniemi

24The road to school near Oulu

25Adult:child ratios; Finance; SNBasic negotiating ratio is one adult to seven children (age 3-6) Muncipalities strict about this, I was told

0-3 is one adult to four children

Family Day Care 4-5 children per adult

Government and Municipalities (400 plus) jointly finance Day care, with parental fees (means-tested) topping up costs. Cap is quite low, at about 17% of child costs (2009) Special Needs 80%+ integration; about 10%+ special schools and/or classes. Currently under review.26

27ECEC Principles and guidance 1The Prime Goals of the national curriculum for ECEC are:1. The promotion of personal well-being2. Reinforcement of considerate behaviour and action towards others3. The gradual building of autonomy and self-efficacy

The guidance states that children learn best when they are active and through playing, moving, exploring.Each Municipality has to write curriculum guidelines which fit the national ones and these are then incorporated in the centres own curriculum planning. 28ECEC Principles and guidance 2Content is not DEFINED, since there are (as the Finns say) NO LISTS OF RIGHT ACTION.

However, there is an expectation that key constructs developed through maths, natural sciences, aesthetics, religions and philosophy will be incorporated in projects, such that they can be continued meaningfully in the more precise Kindergarten (preschool) curriculum which follows at 6 years and flows into the primary section. There are no tests at transition, though there are individual records agreed with parents.29

30Pre-school age 6 to 7As stated, Finnish six year olds have a right to free half day pre school curricula. (Majority do this in Childcare or Kindergarten, as it is called. Only 10+% do it in school, 97.8% receive it.)The curriculum is the National Core Curriculum for Pre-School and is aligned with School Curriculum.It is heavily process oriented and developmental in its approach, utilising project methodology and a high degree of child choice.Language, oracy and communication have a central role in the pre-school curriculum. Oracy is central to all they do. Methods are not prescriptive and individual child plans are essential, though not overly detailed (I found). Judgement of teacher respected.31Preschool education generallyProvided in every municipality for 700 hours per year.Administered by the Ministry of Education (unlike ECEC)Since 2004 the curriculum activities(very general) have been included in the Basic Education Act.When the group size exceeds 13 to a fully qualified teacher , there must be an assistant with at least upper secondary and vocational training.Parents fully recognised as major partners in ECEC and Pre-school.

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33And finally, from their Education Act.The objective of pre-school education (in its entirety and which expressly includes day care or ECEC) is to create a playing and learning environment offering constantly inspiring activities and providing the children with the opportunities to grow holistically together with their peers.....the aim is also to involve children and their parents in the planning of education

Pre-school education is based on the childs own knowledge, skills and experiences. Its main focus should be on play and a positive outlook on life... (And )accustom children to teamwork and consideration of others. 628/1998./200434