Early childhood education if provided for children aged 1-5. Municipality-owned kindergartens in Pori and Rauma are Finnish-language units. Non-Finnish speaking children are naturally integrated into the groups.
According to legislation, if one parent stays at home, not working or studying full-time, there’s a mandated 4-month waiting period for placement. This period begins upon the submission of the application and is regulated by law. However, in cases of urgent need due to school or work of the parents, place for the child should be found in a very short time.
Pre-primary school is compulsory for children of the age of six. At pre-primary education children adopt basic skills, knowledge and capabilities from different areas of learning in accordance with their age and abilities. Learning through play is essential. The pre-primary education is 4 hours a day between mid-August and the beginning of June.
In Finland compulsory education applies to all 6–18-year-olds, permanently residing in country. It includes pre-primary, primary, lower secondary and upper secondary education. Children who move to Finland from abroad usually spend the first year of school in a so-called “preparatory class” with other foreign children. The aim during this year is for the child to reach a level of Finnish that will enable him/her to move to a traditional class with local children in the second year.
At the age of 15, Finnish children start upper secondary education. Foreign children at this age cannot participate in preparatory education anymore. Upper secondary schools and vocational schools in Pori and Rauma provide teaching in Finnish.
Child health clinics offer comprehensive health care services for children aged 0-6, promoting the children’s physical, mental and social development. Child health clinics services are free and available for all.