Finnish-American Kindergarten
Arkadiankatu 35
00100 Helsinki
Töölö 2 kindergarten is the most recent addition to the Finnish American Kindergarten Company, opening in 2015. We have two units here, a Toddler unit catering for children aged 2-3 years of age and unit for the older children ranging from 3-6 years of age. Töölö 2 offers a very close knit international community with 8 staff members bringing expertise from a wide range of backgrounds and qualifications.
The open plan building allows the children to play and learn in a social environment where all children and staff members know each other well, from the youngest to the oldest!
We follow the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum (U.K.) and also incorporate recommendations from Finnish National Core Curriculum for Early Childhood Education and Care as well as the City of Helsinki Curriculum for Early Childhood and Preschool Education. We plan and teach in a way that ensures each child has age appropriate, holistic and individualised learning. We strive to develop a joy of learning in each child and follow weekly themes, guided by our children’s own interests.
We pride ourselves on professionalism and our commitment to both the children and parents but most of all making each day filled with FUN!!
Töölö 2 is the only Kindergarten in the Finnish American Kindergarten Company that has a Toddler Unit (2-3 years old). We have space for 12 toddlers and have 3 full time staff members working on a 1:3/4 ratio with the children.
This small group number allows for individualised planning, teaching and observation.
The Toddlers do have access to our main unit at regular times during the day so the children get to socialise with the older children and the teachers. The Toddlers will learn important self help/social skills such as eating, dressing, toilet training, friendships and playing with others. The staff also prepare the children for the transfer to our 3 years old group by working on academic skills such as basic numbers/letter sounds/colours and independent thinking skills.
In our main unit, we have space for 26-28 children ranging in age from 3 – 6 years old.
The children have their own designated age group. Each age group has their individual identity and a teacher who plans, teaches, observes and assesses each child in that group. The groups carry out two ‘work’ sessions a day with their teacher focusing on adult directed activities based around our theme of the week.
The children also have opportunities for structured play (linked to the theme) throughout the day which allows them to socialise with the different age groups and develop important friendship skills.
We are an accredited part of the Helsinki city pre-school system, following Finnish National Core Curriculum for Early Childhood Education and Care as well as the City of Helsinki Curriculum for Early Childhood and Preschool Education. We also integrate the EYFS Key Stage 1 U.K. curriculum.
Pre school children work to a more formal timetable and are required to have 4 hours of pre school education a day. As our places are full time this requirement is met over the daily routine.
The pre school group have a formal area in the kindergarten and are taught in a ‘classroom’ environment. This is vital as the children need to develop independence, confidence, problem solving abilities and skills that will enable them to make the transition into 1st Grade, whether in the Finnish Primary system or in an International School.
The children will be taught by a qualified teacher who is able to deliver the pre school curriculum.
At Töölö 2 we have our own Gym Space. We not only teach focused Gym Sessions to each group every week, we also host a music club (International School of Music) use this space to hold ‘after-school clubs’ for Töölö & Töölö 2 children only. Parents can register and enrol with these companies if they want their child to take part. Parents will be invoiced by the appropriate company.
First day of term: Monday, August 4, 2025
Last day of term: Tuesday, December 23, 2025
Winter holidays: Wednesday, December 24, 2025 – Tuesday, January 6, 2026
First day of spring term: Wednesday, January 7, 2026
Easter: Friday, April 3, 2026 – Monday, April 6, 2026
May Day: Friday, May 1, 2026
Ascension: Thursday, May 14, 2026
Last day of term: Thursday June 18, 2026
Summer holidays: Friday June 19 2026- Sunday, August 3, 2026