BECERA 2011 - Professor Philip Gammage presentation on 'Finnish EY system'

1. What we can learn from other countries: Finland The context of their ECEC and Kindergarten curricula

5. POPULATION 5.3 Million Average density 17 per sq km. Most sparse in EU Current life expectancy: men 76.3, women 83.0 years Average household 2.1 persons 55% of households in single family homes and 45% in apartment blocks Low perinatal mortality TFR 1.7

6. Languages 91% Finnish (an Ugric language: Suomi) 5.4% Swedish Finland is bilingual by legislation and custom English widely spoken Sami languages (Lap) in the north

8. Religion 81% are Lutheran, yet Lutheranism seems to sit very lightly on their pagan past 1% Orthodox A republic with no official ties to monarch or church

10. Education 78% of population have completed upper secondary or tertiary education 35% have university or other similar qualifications (Highest in EU) Repeatedly top in PISA studies Highest percentage literacy in the 30 OECD countries All education, including university, is free Childcare free, or means tested, till age 7 State all-age comprehensive school 7 to 18 years

11. Education (cont) Reverence for education Kindergarten teachers very well trained, often with higher school grade averages than lawyers or medics. Frequently with M A (30%+) School meals for all, free, since 1950s No real private education, though specialist groups exist No official curriculum until age seven, though broad guidelines of principle for ECEC and also for Kindergarten Much child choice and many project approaches to early learning. Childcare usually ‘integrated’.

12. Playtime

13. Government Sovereign parliamentary republic since 1917 Part of the Russian empire from 1809-1917 and before that part of Sweden for centuries President elected every six years TarjaHalonen, female, elected for second term in 2006 200 members of parliament elected every 4 years; several parties, coalition usual. Member of EU since 1995

15. Finnish working life 85.3% of women employed outside the home Unemployment rate 8% Generous social support Free medical treatment (v high standard) High taxes, base tax effectively 52% High standard of living Per capita GDP... in top four OECD countries Annual inflation rate (2009) -0.5%

16. Economy GDP, 2008 was 187.0 billion Euros 25% of exports are electronic and optical 21% are wood and pulp products 25% machinery and metal products Germany, Russia, Sweden, UK and USA take bulk of exports

18. Area, geography, miscellaneous One third of country above the Arctic Circle 9% lakes of fresh water 6% of land under cultivation 68% of the country in forests Capital is Helsinki (1 million) Five other major cities 99% of families have cell phones 75% have personal computer Bears and wolves and reindeer in north

20. Maisemaa, Finland, early autumn

21. The northernmost university in the world, Lapland, Rovaniemi

22. ECEC and Pre-primary (Kindergarten) Social policy is the frame for early years education All 6-7 yr old Finns entitled to free Kindergarten/preschool curriculum. This can be in day-care, 1 to 7yrs, or in school. 6 to 18. Parents choose where for under sevens; 80+% opt for day care (age six to seven) 50% of children under three in day care ; 40% at home (special allowances) 4% private, but paid for (figures approx) Private day care is where parents organise it themselves. They have to act like state day care....not for profit Municipal day care organised by and responsibility of local authorities. (Municipalities)

23. Day care (cont) Child home care attracts an allowance of 295 Euros pm(2008) and the allowance is part of maternity/paternity benefit. Usually it is accessed in the child’s first year and the child then goes full or part-time (choice) to day care. (approx a third go ‘part-time up’ to 6yrs, but part time is usually quite substantial) STAFF are multidisciplinary because it is ECEC One third of ECEC staff have degrees ,including Master’s degrees. New (2008) regs insist ALL have special lengthy vocational training. Many also with Polytechnic degrees. This increasing, too.

24. The road to school, Rovaniemi

25. The road to school near Oulu

26. Adult:child ratios; Finance; SN Basic ‘negotiating’ ratio is one adult to seven children (age 3-6) Muncipalities strict about this, I was told 0-3 is one adult to four children Family Day Care 4-5 children per adult Government and Municipalities (400 plus) jointly finance Day care, with parental fees (means-tested) topping up costs. Cap is quite low, at about 17% of child costs (2009) Special Needs 80%+ integration; about 10%+ special schools and/or classes. Currently under review.

28. ECEC Principles and guidance 1 The Prime Goals of the national curriculum for ECEC are: 1. The promotion of personal well-being 2. Reinforcement of considerate behaviour and action towards others 3. The gradual building of autonomy and self-efficacy The guidance states that children learn best when they are active and through playing, moving, exploring. Each Municipality has to write curriculum guidelines which fit the national ones and these are then incorporated in the centre’s own curriculum planning.

29. ECEC Principles and guidance 2 Content is not DEFINED, since there are (as the Finns say) ‘NO LISTS OF RIGHT ACTION’. However, there is an expectation that key constructs developed through maths, natural sciences, aesthetics, religions and philosophy will be incorporated in projects, such that they can be continued meaningfully in the more precise Kindergarten (preschool) curriculum which follows at 6 years and flows into the primary section. There are no tests at transition, though there are individual records agreed with parents.

31. Pre-school age 6 to 7 As stated, Finnish six year olds have a right to free half day pre school curricula. (Majority do this in Childcare or ‘Kindergarten’, as it is called. Only 10+% do it in school, 97.8% receive it.) The curriculum is the National Core Curriculum for Pre-School and is aligned with School Curriculum. It is heavily ‘process oriented’ and ‘developmental’ in its approach, utilising project methodology and a high degree of child choice. Language, oracy and communication have a central role in the pre-school curriculum. Oracy is central to all they do. Methods are not prescriptive and individual child plans are essential, though not overly detailed (I found). Judgement of teacher respected.

32. Preschool education generally Provided in every municipality for 700 hours per year. Administered by the Ministry of Education (unlike ECEC) Since 2004 the curriculum activities(very general) have been included in the Basic Education Act. When the group size exceeds 13 to a fully qualified teacher , there must be an assistant with at least upper secondary and vocational training. Parents fully recognised as major partners in ECEC and Pre-school.

34. And finally, from their Education Act. “The objective of pre-school education (in its entirety and which expressly includes day care or ECEC) is to create a playing and learning environment offering constantly inspiring activities and providing the children with the opportunities to grow holistically together with their peers.....the aim is also to involve children and their parents in the planning of education” “Pre-school education is based on the child’s own knowledge, skills and experiences. Its main focus should be on play and a positive outlook on life... (And )accustom children to teamwork and consideration of others.” 628/1998./2004