Starting school a year earlier or a year later

 

Compulsory education normally starts in the year of the child's seventh birthday. However, the child can start school a year earlier or a year later, depending on their individual needs and developmental stage. The child must possess the cognitive, social and psychological skills required for starting school. Therefore, the parents/guardians must obtain a psychologist's report (and, if necessary, a doctor's report) supporting the decision to start school. This report must be submitted to the Basic Education Services as an attachment to the application. If the parents/guardians want to delay the start of school for their child, they must fill out a separate application and submit it to the Basic Education Services enclosing a doctor's or psychologist's report.

Application forms are available from comprehensive schools and the Basic Education Services.

Chief of Basic Education
Mika Kuitunen
+358 44 718 5151
mika.kuitunen(at)kuopio.fi