Bilingual preschool and basic education

In bilingual preschool education, children learn the target language through song, play, games and other daily activities.  

Starting from first grade, the target language is taught as a subject with weekly lessons. It becomes the so called A1 language for the pupil. During the first years of school, pupils learn to read and write both in Finnish and in the target language. In bilingual education in Tampere, students have more lessons in the A1 language than in other schools. Each school’s curriculum defines which parts of teaching are carried out in the target language and which parts in Finnish.

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 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. 

All schools follow the Finnish National Core Curriculum, set by the Finnish National Agency for Education.

Enrolment in bilingual preschool education usually happens in January or February, at the same time as for Finnish language preschool education. There are no language tests for children applying for bilingual preschool education. However, at FISTA (English medium preschool), priority is given to children who already have basic skills in the target language.

This enrolment applies to the preschool year only, and children attending bilingual preschool education do not automatically transfer to first grade in the same school.

In the school year 2025-2026, preschool education is provided to children born in 2019. Application period is 10.-29.1.2025.
Application to bilingual preschool school year 2025-2026 

For enrolment in Swedish-language preschool education, families should contact Svenska samskolan i Tammerfors directly.

In addition to preschool hours (4h/day) the child can be signed up for morning and/or afternoon activities. There is a fee for the morning and afternoon activities. Bilingual preschool education has two options for morning and afternoon activities: part-time early childhood education and care, or school morning and afternoon clubs.

Part-time early childhood education and care (at a daycare centre)

Daycare centres organize part-time early childhood education and care for preschool students between 7am and 5pm (6am and 6pm when necessary).
The options are:
Preschool 4 hours/day + daycare max 5 hours/day 
Preschool 4 hours/day + daycare over 5 hours/day 

Early childhood education fees

Applications in the eVaka system.

School morning and afternoon clubs (at school)

School morning and afternoon clubs are for preschool, first grade and second grade students. The clubs are open from 8am and close at 5pm. Students participating in the afternoon clubs get an afternoon snack. 

Client fees for school morning and afternoon clubs

Applications in Wilma under "Applications and decisions" (open once your child has received their preschool placement).

Fees

040 180 8476, Mon-Thu 9.00-11.00
[email protected] 

First grade students are selected based on a language test in February of the year they start school (4.2.2025, FISTA 4.-5.2.2025). Registration for the aptitude tests is open in January (2.-20.1.2025). If the child is enrolled in bilingual preschool education organized by the City of Tampere, the guardian should fill out a registration form in Wilma. Otherwise, the registration should be made through a form on the providing school’s website (FISTA) or through directly contacting the principal of the providing school (Tammela, Wivi Lönn).

Those moving to Finland from abroad after the application period should contact the school they are interested in directly.