In an introductory talk on the Finnish system, pedagogical expert Leena Heinilä from VisitEDUfinn summed up the country’s approach to education as ‘play and joy’.
Our group of 10 on the Nursery World study tour were able to visit two nurseries in Finland and four in Sweden over half-term in February.
Play and joy was something we witnessed lots of first hand over the course of the week in countries which place an emphasis on the importance of the outdoors for children’s development and the health and well-being of all.
As young children in the UK face increasing pressure towards more formal learning, in Finland and Sweden young children start school in the year they turn seven, after attending pre-school from one to six.
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