Taking a 5 year old from USA to Finland - need advice

jdpenk · Post by **jdpenk** » Sun Oct 22, 2006 10:25 am

I have a 5 year old son who is now in Kindergarden (K-1), in California, and is learning how to read, write and gets homework each day.

We are looking at moving to Finland next March for 12 months, which means pulling him out of school, but the options in Finland seem limited:
- Esikoulu doesn't teach much, so he would fall behind the US school system
- Ensimainen loukka peruskoulu looks impossible since he would be too young and apparently can't enter without a 'psychological evaluation' (are they looking for a genius or something??)
- International School is EUR13,000 !!!

So what can we do to give our 5 year old a place to go each day, learn something, and not fall behind the US education system for when we return?

Language is not an issue, he is fluent in English and Finnish.

Does anyone have any advice?

**Sponsor:**

karen · Post by **karen** » Sun Oct 22, 2006 10:37 am

I don't think it's impossible. I just met someone who is also here for one year. Her 6yo daughter had completed K and was ready for 1st, but she is only 6. Her parents managed to get her enrolled in 1st at her local Finnish school. The girl didn't speak any Finnish at all, but wanted to attend the Finnish school. I've heard that she's doing well and is quite the celebrity among her peers. If a non-Finnish speaker could make it happen, I'm sure that you could do something similar for your bi-lingual child.

jdpenk · Post by **jdpenk** » Sun Oct 22, 2006 10:47 am

Thanks, that's encouraging information.

Any idea how I can get my son enrolled in a regular 1st grade class starting Sep 2007 (he will be 6 by that time)? Did your friend have to jump through any hoops to do this (such as a psychological evaluation, mentioned on one website I saw), or can we just contact the school?

Do you know when the application process starts, deadlines, etc, for 1st grade?

Thanks!

karen · Post by **karen** » Sun Oct 22, 2006 12:01 pm

I'll ask her if I can give you her email address then you can contact her directly.

jdpenk · Post by **jdpenk** » Sun Oct 22, 2006 12:07 pm

Thanks, that would be great.

- Jason, California.

Amandine.K · Post by **Amandine.K** » Sun Oct 22, 2006 9:49 pm

jdpenk wrote:
- International School is EUR13,000 !!!

Kela helps towards monthly costs if the child is under 7. That's the case for us with the French school in Lehtisaari. Works out very well so you might want to investigate a bit further

cmichiel · Post by **cmichiel** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 1:10 pm

Our daughter of 6 is currently attending 1st grade at Ressu school (http://www.ressuy.edu.hel.fi/). We did not have to do anything special to get her accepted at 6 instead of the usual 7 years. She did have a test to see if her english was good enough but that test was for all the kids applying for the english first grade at Ressu. There are currently three 6 year olds in her class of 19 if I remember correctly. I know of at least 2 Finnish bilingual kids who went to attend the first grade at Kulosaari at the age of 6 and similarly they did not have to do anything special in order for them to get accepted at 6 instead of 7.

kultary · Post by **kultary** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 11:17 am

Just move to Tampere. The two English-language schools are part of the normal city school system. There are no additional fees for attending.

-ry

cmichiel · Post by **cmichiel** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 12:46 pm

Similarly, there are no fees for attending Ressu.

Hank W. · Post by **Hank W.** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 1:05 pm

Well, back in the "good old days" the primary classes of the "English school" were so you got homework and learned to read and write.

Though I don't understand what the fuss is, as it seems to be a big shock in high school for the kids to need to be learning how to read, write and get homework each day.

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