Accidents at school

A school employee must always fill in an accident report form when an accident has occurred, even if no immediate medical attention is required. The school personnel representative with primary supervisory responsibility in the situation in which the accident occurred must fill in the report. 

A properly filed report is necessary for any insurance pay-out. If necessary, the school will also provide the guardian with a copy of the accident report. In addition, the school will issue an insurance certificate with instructions for the guardian and any medical institution engaged in treatment.

Minor accidents occurring during the school day will be treated at the school. If treatment provided at the school is inadequate, it is possible to seek further treatment in either the wellbeing services county of Pirkanmaa health centres or through private health care providers. In serious cases, the pupil will be directly referred to the Tampere University Hospital.

Private health care providers recommended by the If insurance company include: Terveystalo, Mehiläinen, Pihlajalinna, and Aava. 

Dental events that took place prior to 2015 will primarily be treated in the wellbeing services county of Pirkanmaa dental healthcare system.

The treatment of any injury that occurred to a pupil at school, while commuting to or from school, or when lodged with the school shall be free of charge to the pupil (Basic Education Act, section 34). The above regulation applies to the immediate costs incurred in the treatment of an injury, such as practitioner’s fees and clinic and treatment fees.

Reimbursement of medical costs through the If insurance company

The City of Tampere has taken out a voluntary group accident insurance policy with the If insurance company covering all children in basic education, preschool education, and early childhood education and care (the policy number is SP0002259302.2.5).

Reimbursement procedure 1: The pupil or guardian may provide the health care facility with an insurance certificate received from the school, allowing the health care provider to invoice the City of Tampere for the costs.

Reimbursement procedure 2: If the guardian pays for the costs themself, they should apply for insurance payment from the If insurance company using the online claim form at if.fi/internetplus

Provide the policy number with the claim. Only include receipts of the costs when asked to do so.

For more information, you can e-mail: [email protected] or call tel. 010 19 17 15.

No property damage incurred in the course of an accident will be reimbursed unless the accident also results in a need for medical attention. Insurance will reimburse repair costs for spectacles, a crash helmet, hearing aids, and dentures which were in use at the time of the accident for which medical treatment is required, or, if repair is impossible, the acquisition costs of a replacement.

Neither the insurance policy nor the city will usually assume responsibility for any property damage incurred by the pupil at school. For example, a coat that goes missing from the school coat rack will not be reimbursed. Lost or broken phones or other equipment will also not be reimbursed.

If a pupil deliberately causes damage to the property of another pupil, the pupil who caused the damage or their guardian will be liable for the damage.

Damage caused by a pupil to school property will usually be reimbursed by the city. Only if the pupil can be shown to have caused the damage through deliberate action or action in defiance of rules and regulations can the pupil or their guardian become liable for such damage.