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Pre-School and Primary School Education

Pre-school education

Pre-school education is implemented in Pielavesi unitary school (Rannakylä) and in schools of Northen Pielavesi and Säviä.

The pre-school education learning and teaching methods are play, arranging interesting learning environment and active exploration with other children and adults. Improving a child’s learning conditions and identifying potential risk factors and providing early support are central to the pre-school education.

You can apply for the pre-school education throughout the year with an online form or by going to the school office.

Pre-primary education is free teaching that children receive in a day-care centre or school in the year before compulsory education. Pre-primary education is also organised in private early childhood education and care.

Children in the pre-primary education age, or 6 years, participate in pre-primary education. Those 7-year-olds whose school attendance has been postponed also participate in pre-primary education. It can additionally be attended by 5-year-olds to whom a decision on extended compulsory education has been issued.

The children receive pre-primary education for four hours every morning. During this time, a lunch is served to the children.

If a pupil in pre-primary education needs support, they have the right to the assistance services and aids they need.

Under the Basic Education Act, participation in pre-primary education is mandatory. The child’s guardian is responsible for ensuring that the child participates in pre-primary education or other activities that meet the objectives for pre-primary education the year preceding the start of their compulsory education.

The aim is to prevent learning difficulties and identify them as early as possible. Successful support requires cooperation between the guardian and the school. When appropriate, support is planned on a multidisciplinary basis.

General support

General support is the first way to respond student’s need for support. The general support is given right away when the need occurs and no specific investigations or decisions are required to start the support.

Enhanced support

If a student needs regular support in their learning or when attending school, their support measures are stepped up. A pedagogical valuation is carried out and after the transition to enhanced support, a learning plan is made to record for instance the support the student needs and how it is organized.

Special support

If a student needs regular and strong support, special support is arranged. Before moving to special support, a pedagogical assessment of the student’s need for support is carried out. After that, an administrative decision is made of the special support. A personal teaching plan (HOJKS) is created for the student. It is defined how teaching and the support is practically arranged.

Extended compulsory education

A special support decision and a decision on the extended compulsory education is made for the student. The decision has to be justified by a psychological or medical statement for the pedagogical assessment.

The extended compulsory education covers children with severe disabilities. These disabilities can be for example with visual and hearing impairments and otherwise children with severe physical or mental disabilities or developmental delays. Difficult illness can also be a reason for the extended compulsory education.

The education of children in the extended compulsory education is organized as follows:

  • When a child turns 5 years old, the child starts the pre-school education in the year before the compulsory school. Then they continue one year of the compulsory pre-school education and then start the primary school.
  • A child starts the extended compulsory pre-school education in the year when they turn 6 years old. They attend the pre-school education for one year, after which they start the primary school education.
  • A child start the extended compulsory pre-school education in the year when they turn 6 years old and they attend the pre-school education for two years. In this case, the child starts the primary school education later than the year prescribed, in other words the year they turn 8 years old. A separate administrative decision must be made on the subsequent start of the primary school education.

A child in the extended compulsory education, who needs special support, is created a personal teaching plan (HOJKS).

Pre-school education application

With an application, you can request pre-school education for your child. You can find the webpage for applying below.

Primary school education

In Pielavesi, primary school education is organized in the schools of Rannankylä (grades 0-5) and Puustelli (grades 6-9) and in the schools of Säviä and Northern Pielavesi (grades 0-6).

The aim of the primary school education is to support student’s growth as people and members of the society and to teach them the necessary knowledge and skills.

If your child has attended one of the Pielavesi municipality pre-primary schools, you do not need to register your child separately for 1st grade. Please contact the school office, if your child has not attended pre-primary school in Pielavesi and is about to start 1st grade.

The schools update their school year bulletins, including forms for requesting absences, on their school specific peda.net website.

School club activities are extra-curricular, free and voluntary activities for students as part of the school day.

The aim of the club activities is to give every child and a young person the opportunity to participate in at least one regular activity throughout their primary school education.

The club activity provider is not obliged to provide transport to or from the club.

You can find more information about the club activities from your own school.

The aim is to prevent learning difficulties and identify them as early as possible. Successful support requires cooperation between the guardian and the school. When appropriate, support is planned on a multidisciplinary basis.

General support

General support is the first way to respond student’s need for support. The general support is given right away when the need occurs and no specific investigations or decisions are required to start the support.

Enhanced support

If a student needs regular support in their learning or when attending school, their support measures are stepped up. A pedagogical valuation is carried out and after the transition to enhanced support, a learning plan is made to record for instance the support the student needs and how it is organized.

Special support

If a student needs regular and strong support, special support is arranged. Before moving to special support, a pedagogical assessment of the student’s need for support is carried out. After that, an administrative decision is made of the special support. A personal teaching plan (HOJKS) is created for the student. It is defined how teaching and the support is practically arranged.

Extended compulsory education

A special support decision and a decision on the extended compulsory education is made for the student. The decision has to be justified by a psychological or medical statement for the pedagogical assessment.

The extended compulsory education covers children with severe disabilities. These disabilities can be for example with visual and hearing impairments and otherwise children with severe physical or mental disabilities or developmental delays. Difficult illness can also be a reason for the extended compulsory education.

The education of children in the extended compulsory education is organized as follows:

  • When a child turns 5 years old, the child starts the pre-school education in the year before the compulsory school. Then they continue one year of the compulsory pre-school education and then start the primary school.
  • A child starts the extended compulsory pre-school education in the year when they turn 6 years old. They attend the pre-school education for one year, after which they start the primary school education.
  • A child start the extended compulsory pre-school education in the year when they turn 6 years old and they attend the pre-school education for two years. In this case, the child starts the primary school education later than the year prescribed, in other words the year they turn 8 years old. A separate administrative decision must be made on the subsequent start of the primary school education.

A child in the extended compulsory education, who needs special support, is created a personal teaching plan (HOJKS).

School transportation

The school transport is organized according to the Basic Education Act.

A student after fulfilling the conditions, who receives primary, supplementary or pre-primary education, is entitled to free school transport or an allowance for transporting or accompanying a student. School transport for students transferred to special education is organized on an individual basis.

The municipality buys school transport from private operators.

For matters related to school transport, please contact the school office.

Get to know Pielavesi primary schools

Contact us

Niskanen Sirpa

hallinnon asiantuntija

kasvun ja oppimisen lautakunta

040 4894165

sirpa.niskanen@pielavesi.fi