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What are special support and extended compulsory education?
All children living in Finland have the right to receive the support they need to study and learn during their compulsory education. The three-level support system includes general, intensified and special support.
Special support is the highest level of support a child can receive. In addition to special education, it includes other support needed by the child, such as everyday skills training. If your child has a severe developmental disability, a serious illness or a developmental delay, you may apply for a decision on special support to be made for your child from the education provider. Before deciding on special support, the education provider will always consult you and your child.
A child who receives a decision on special support may also have their compulsory education extended. Extended compulsory education aims to help your child succeed as well as possible in their basic education.
Extended compulsory education can be arranged in three different ways:
- The child attends two years of pre-primary education starting from the year during which they turn five years old. They then move on to basic education, which comprises nine grades.
- The child attends a year of pre-primary education starting from the year during which they turn six years old. They then move on to basic education, which comprises nine grades.
- The child attends two years of pre-primary education starting from the year during which they turn six years old. They then move on to basic education, which comprises nine grades.
Pre-primary education
The aim of pre-primary education is to provide the child with skills and abilities that support the child's transition to basic education. Pre-primary education can be arranged at a daycare centre, school or other suitable facility.
Learn more about pre-primary education
For most children, pre-primary education lasts one year and starts the year they turn six years old. Within extended compulsory education, a child’s pre-primary can last for two years, starting when the child is either five or six years old. If you feel that your child would benefit from an extension, we recommend that that you apply for extended compulsory education for your child in good time.
Read more about extended compulsory education and how to apply for it
Starting school
Basic education covers grades 1 to 9 and is free of charge. For most children, basic education begins in the autumn of the year the child turns seven years old.
Learn more about basic education
As the child's guardian, you can apply for permission for your child to start basic education one year later than usual. In this case, your child's pre-primary education will last two years, and their basic education will begin in the autumn of the year when they turn eight.
Read more about starting school a year later or a year earlier
Local schools and special schools
In Helsinki, as many students as possible receive the support they need at their local school. Each student has their own individual needs, so we also offer various forms of support. For example, a student is entitled to receive free of charge the assistive devices and interpretation and assistance services that they need in order to attend school.
Learn more about our comprehensive schools
Read more about support services for learning
If the child cannot receive the necessary support at their local school, they can get a place at a special school. There are five special schools in Helsinki. We also provide hospital school instruction in both Finnish and Swedish.
Learn more about our special schools
There are also private schools in Helsinki that provide education for children with special needs.
Journeys to and from pre-school and school
If certain conditions are met, pupils can receive a school child’s travel card for school trips from Helsinki Region Transport (HSL).
If your child cannot travel to pre-primary or basic education independently, they will receive school transport. Special transport is usually provided as a shared taxi ride. A personal transport service is also possible if the need for it is supported by a medical certificate.
Read more about organising school transport
Morning and afternoon activities
The morning and afternoon activities for schoolchildren are intended for pupils in the first and second grades, as well as special support pupils in other grades. The activities aim to provide your child with stimulating and safe things to do before and after the school day.
Learn more about Helsinki's morning activities
Learn more about Helsinki's afternoon activities
We also organise morning, afternoon and holiday activities for children with developmental disabilities and autism, also as an activity belonging to the special care programme.
Learn more about morning, afternoon and holiday activities for children with disabilities and autism