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gesb · Post by **gesb** » Sat Dec 27, 2008 5:51 pm

Actually, I'm searching for education information but thought the thread topic may get more hits as listed. Do you normally find English speaking schools only in the greater Helsinki area or, am I able to find English speaking schools in the rural areas as well? I'm looking in a 30-45 min diameter of Espoo

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Pursuivant · Post by **Pursuivant** » Sat Dec 27, 2008 7:25 pm

so y'all farmers going with biodiesel into town? good try

but look at the answers - the question has been asked before... theres only a few options within the Ring III area, and if you go outside then your options start dwindling.

EP · Post by EP » Sat Dec 27, 2008 7:52 pm

You might get more hits with the title, but perhaps not from the right people. Try searching for penelope and check her answers. She has answered the question about English speaking chools many times.

I suspect that there are no such things in rural areas. Why would there be?

Rosamunda · Post by **Rosamunda** » Sat Dec 27, 2008 11:06 pm

There are English-speaking daycares in places like Kirkkonummi but, as far as I know, no comprehensive schools. Regular Finnish state schools do a good job of teaching English as part of the National Core curriculum. If you want your kids to learn Finnish, then dump them in a mainstream Finnish school; they will learn the language a whole lot faster than if you put them in an English language school. If you are thinking of settling here permanently then I would strongly (very) recommend you consider putting your children into a school where Finnish (or even Swedish if you head out west) is the language of tuition. Believe me.

By the way... it is not really allowed to commute to a school in a neighbouring municipality. If you live in Inkoo then you are supposed to school your kids in Inkoo. If you live in Vihti, your kids go to school in Vihti... at least up through junior high school (lukio is different). Espoo is an exception as we have a reciprocal agreement with Helsinki for schooling children. There might be some others out in the sticks but it creates problems (eg with healthcare etc).

And as I said in the other thread. 35 min diameter of Espoo is a bit vague. Most of Helsinki and Vantaa is within 35 min commute from Espoo... but it is not particularly rural.

gesb · Post by **gesb** » Sun Dec 28, 2008 3:16 pm

EP wrote:You might get more hits with the title, but perhaps not from the right people. Try searching for penelope and check her answers. She has answered the question about English speaking chools many times.

I suspect that there are no such things in rural areas. Why would there be?

Thanks for the input. I'll seek out Penelope's knowledge

Rosamunda · Post by **Rosamunda** » Sun Dec 28, 2008 11:14 pm

I read you will be working in Nokia House. So, most foreigners who work there put their kids in to Komeetta (in Olari) which is a primary school for kids age 7-13 or Postipuu (similar school in Leppävaara). For kids in the 14-16 age group there is Espoo International School in Pohjois Tapiola. If you want an IB school, then Ressu in Helsinki does the full PYP/MYP programme. There are other schools in Helsinki that teach in English, you'll find plenty of threads on those too. But as I said above, if you want to put your children in those schools, then you have to live in Espoo/Helsinki.

raamv · Post by **raamv** » Wed Dec 31, 2008 1:27 am

penelope wrote:There are English-speaking daycares in places like Kirkkonummi but, as far as I know, no comprehensive schools. Regular Finnish state schools do a good job of teaching English as part of the National Core curriculum. If you want your kids to learn Finnish, then dump them in a mainstream Finnish school; they will learn the language a whole lot faster than if you put them in an English language school. If you are thinking of settling here permanently then I would strongly (very) recommend you consider putting your children into a school where Finnish (or even Swedish if you head out west) is the language of tuition. Believe me.

By the way... it is not really allowed to commute to a school in a neighbouring municipality. If you live in Inkoo then you are supposed to school your kids in Inkoo. If you live in Vihti, your kids go to school in Vihti... at least up through junior high school (lukio is different). Espoo is an exception as we have a reciprocal agreement with Helsinki for schooling children. There might be some others out in the sticks but it creates problems (eg with healthcare etc).

And as I said in the other thread. 35 min diameter of Espoo is a bit vague. Most of Helsinki and Vantaa is within 35 min commute from Espoo... but it is not particularly rural.

Nope...Only 1 private English speaking daycare in Kirkkonummi in Gesterby.
No English speaking schools there in Kirkkonummi either..
as I posted in the other section, Just be aware of the services that the kunta/County is able to provide..
and Follow Penny's advice on Schools.
Finnish all the way if you are looking at long term stay here..
About the commute, Its not that you are not allowed..Its that The kunta/Commune does not pay for anything.. ( For e.g. Inkoo residents can send their kids to Kirkkonummi or even Espoo/HEL but the Kunta doesnt pay a penny for anything regarding travel/taxis/bus or the daycare charges etc)
The best bet for the OP is to stay in Espoo/Kirkkonummi/Siuntio area but then depends on their financial ability to buy a farm/house and a car etc etc without any credit in Finland..

Rosamunda · Post by **Rosamunda** » Wed Dec 31, 2008 2:43 pm

raamv wrote: About the commute, Its not that you are not allowed..Its that The kunta/Commune does not pay for anything.. ( For e.g. Inkoo residents can send their kids to Kirkkonummi or even Espoo/HEL but the Kunta doesnt pay a penny for anything regarding travel/taxis/bus or the daycare charges etc)

It was my understanding that the municipalities do not allow cross-border schooling. Even between Espoo and Helsinki transportation is not paid for, and dental/health checks are not offered in school (stupid), OTOH school meals are still supplied for free.

The rule for Komeetta and Postipuu has always been that residents of Espoo get priority (after the entrance test and other criteria have been met). Given that all the English language schools are over-subscribed it would be unlikely that a resident of Kirkkonummi would be offered a place.

So I really don't know about commuting between Inkoo and Kirkkonummi etc. But I do know that people find "ways" around these problems.

raamv · Post by **raamv** » Fri Jan 02, 2009 1:52 am

penelope wrote:
raamv wrote: About the commute, Its not that you are not allowed..Its that The kunta/Commune does not pay for anything.. ( For e.g. Inkoo residents can send their kids to Kirkkonummi or even Espoo/HEL but the Kunta doesnt pay a penny for anything regarding travel/taxis/bus or the daycare charges etc)
It was my understanding that the municipalities do not allow cross-border schooling. Even between Espoo and Helsinki transportation is not paid for, and dental/health checks are not offered in school (stupid), OTOH school meals are still supplied for free.

The rule for Komeetta and Postipuu has always been that residents of Espoo get priority (after the entrance test and other criteria have been met). Given that all the English language schools are over-subscribed it would be unlikely that a resident of Kirkkonummi would be offered a place.

So I really don't know about commuting between Inkoo and Kirkkonummi etc. But I do know that people find "ways" around these problems.

Its not that they allow..but practically, it becomes more expensive than if you would school the kid in the commune that you belong..
I do know some kids that even went to daycare in Espoo while living in Inkoo..
and then school is an issue...as timing becomes a big problem as the counties dont need to provide transportation and then transportation from Espoo/HEL becomes a major issue..especially to communes like Kirkkonummi and Inkoo.. ( even tho Kirkkonummi is only a 20 min commute, the parents have to depend on their kid taking the train/us from there ..)
Its not about schooling..but about commuting..and services ..so thats the point that I am making..

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