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Welcome to school guide

Find more information about starting comprehensive school in the sections below:

To go the school search website to find the schools’ websites for school-specific information on parents’ evenings and other information events. Schools that offer weighted-curriculum education, bilingual education and basic education in English publish information on the aptitude tests and test dates on their websites.

Important dates

  • 14 November 2022–13 January 2023 Schools may hold information events for guardians. See dates and times on the school websites at hel.fi/peruskoulut/en. 
  • 9–29 January 2023 Online enrolment to local school on Asti. Compulsory education notes will be posted to homes 4 January 2023 onwards.  
  • 9–29 January 2023 Application period for weighted-curriculum education, basic education in English and bilingual education with a separate application.
  • 17–31 January 2023 The school principal invites the future first-grader and guardians to a hearing regarding a decision for special needs education when special needs education is organised as part of mainstream education or in a special needs class at the local school. 
  • Wed 25 January 2023 If you are unable to enrol your child to school electronically on Asti, enrol at your local school at 8.00–10.00 am. Please bring the compulsory education note with you.
  • Sun 29 January 2023 Enrolment period to school ends. If the application requires all guardians' consent, consent must be given by the end of the enrolment period on Sunday 29 January 2023. 
  • Mon 30 January onwards If your family moves to Helsinki after the enrolment period, and you want to place your child at your local school, you should contact the local school principal. The local school is assigned to you based on your home address. You can check your nearest local school on the Helsinki Service Map by entering your home address in the search field. If your family moves to Helsinki after the enrolment period, and you wish to apply for a place in English-language basic education, or bilingual education, get in touch with the school that organises thse programmes.
  • 1–17 February 2023 The school principal invites the future first-grader and guardians to a hearing before making the final decision regarding special needs education when special needs education is organised at a special needs school, in a special needs class for extended compulsory education, or in a supported special needs class.
  • Fri 3 March 2023 The school sends the admission decision and the decision for special support (if applied for) to the pupil’s home by post.
  • 6 March−1 May 2023 The application period for after-school activities is open.
  • Fri 31 March 2023 Submitting additional information on Asti for organising the child's instruction ends.
  • Thu 10 August 2023 First day of school. School term dates and holidays for the school year 2023–2024 is published on the School term dates and holidays page.


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 13.12.2022 15:03

Welcome to school! Guide for first-graders' guardians

Does your child go to 1st grade in 2023? Learn more about school and education in Helsinki in this PDF guide!