Your Child's First Step Into Kindergarten

Your child's first step into Kindergarten

Starting kindergarten is an exciting milestone for both your child and your family. It marks an important step in your child’s development as they begin a new journey of learning, growth, and independence. It’s completely natural for both children and parents to feel a mix of
excitement and nervousness during this transition.

We are here to support you every step of the way. Our introduction provides practical, parent-
friendly guidance to help you and your child prepare for a smooth and confident start to
kindergarten.

Our team is multilingual and able to support children in both English and Finnish. There is no requirement for your child to have prior knowledge of either language—children are welcomed and supported at all levels. Our child-friendly learning approaches, including visual aids such as picture cards and clear body language, to help children understand, communicate, and feel confident in their surroundings. Creating a safe, secure, and inclusive environment is at the heart of everything we do.

We also follow a gentle “soft landing” approach, allowing children to settle in at their own pace with plenty of warmth, reassurance, smiles, and encouragement.

As part of our familiarisation process, your child’s group teacher will meet with you for a discussion. This is an opportunity for you to share insights about your child’s personality, interests, and individual needs, as well as your expectations and hopes for their daycare experience. This collaboration helps us provide the best possible support for your child’s
wellbeing and development.

During the familiarisation period, you are warmly invited to stay with your child and take part in
our daily activities. This allows you to experience your child’s day at kindergarten and helps them feel safe and supported in their new environment.

We will work together to gradually increase the amount of time your child spends at daycare.
This transition period usually lasts about a week, but it can be adjusted based on your child’s individual needs and how comfortably they settle in.

We will guide you through our daily schedule, including routines, mealtimes, and the types of
clothing your child will need for different activities and seasons.

With our experienced, bilingual, and caring team, you can feel confident that your child is in a safe and supportive environment where they can enjoy and thrive in their kindergarten experience.

We are committed to supporting children’s holistic development by fostering ethical
understanding, sustainability awareness, and respect for others. Our pedagogy encourages
children to develop as active, responsible, and empathetic members of their community.

We value play-based learning as a fundamental right of early childhood, recognising play as a
key context for learning, wellbeing, and development. Through meaningful interactions and
experiences, children are guided to care for one another and develop an early sense of
responsibility towards the environment.

Parents as partners

We place your child’s safety, wellbeing, and sense of security at the centre of our early childhood education practice. Strong, respectful partnerships with families are essential to supporting each child’s learning and development.

We maintain ongoing, two-way communication with parents and provide regular updates on your child’s daily experiences, including routines such as rest, meals, play, and learning activities. We also share selected photos of meaningful moments to help families stay connected with their child’s day. In addition, authorised documentation of activities and excursions is shared through our groups app.

Families are recognised as important partners in the learning process. We encourage parents to actively contribute their knowledge of their child, share insights, and participate in discussions that support their child’s learning journey.

In accordance with the City of Helsinki Early Childhood Education curriculum, we work in partnership with families to develop and review each child’s VASU (Varhaiskasvatussuunnitelma), the individual early childhood education plan. This collaborative process includes regular discussions, shared observations, and reflection between educators and parents to support each child’s holistic development, wellbeing, and learning goals.

Trust and mutual respect between parents, educators and care givers are essential to a strong partnership. We achieve the best outcomes for your child when we work collaboratively, with a shared commitment to their wellbeing and development. All personal information and discussions are treated with the utmost confidentiality and in accordance with data protection principles.

It is our privilege to care for your children and to support them as they experience a joyful and meaningful early childhood. Together, we are committed to promoting each child’s health,
growth, and learning progress in a nurturing and supportive environment.

Daily structure

We are open Monday to Friday from 07:30 to 17:00. Our carefully planned curriculum and daily routines support children’s holistic development through a balance of structured and play-based learning. Activities include music and singing, dance, physical education and gym, yoga, story time and early literacy, role play, group activities such as small performances or concerts, as well as both indoor and outdoor play. Children also take part in seasonal celebrations, baking experiences, and creative activities such as arts and crafts.

Consistency plays an important role in helping children feel safe, secure, and confident, as it allows them to know what to expect throughout their day. We follow a clear and predictable daily routine that supports children’s sense of stability and wellbeing. At the same time, we recognise the importance of flexibility in early childhood education. Our approach allows us to respond to children’s individual needs, interests, and spontaneous learning opportunities, while remaining open to change when needed.

In early childhood education and care practice, we take a responsive and child- centred approach guided by children’s interests, engagement, and wellbeing. Educators observe children closely and use these observations to inform daily programming and decision-making.
When children are deeply engaged in meaningful learning experiences, we may choose to extend and build upon that play or activity rather than transition to the next planned experience. This supports sustained shared thinking, learning through play, and children’s active involvement in their own learning. As a result, daily routines and schedules remain flexible if educators see the greater benefit it creates.

We provide nutritious meals throughout the day, including breakfast, lunch, and an afternoon snack, to support children’s growth, development, and wellbeing. Our warm lunch meals are catered by a trusted early childhood education food provider, HSIS Catering. Breakfast and afternoon snacks are prepared fresh on-site by our educators, ensuring a balanced and child-friendly menu. We also accommodate vegetarian diets and a range of special dietary requirements, working closely with families to ensure each child’s individual needs are met safely and respectfully.