HEI Schools Early Years concept

HEI Schools Senayan Children in classroom

HEI Schools Saudi Arabia children playing drums

HEI Schools Saudi Arabia Children intake

HEI Schools San Rafael children learning art

HEI Schools San Rafael Children playing in aerobic class

HEI Schools San Rafael children playing with lego

HEI Schools San Rafael children walking with their teacher

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Read more our case studies

I was looking for a school that embraces the whole child and views them as an individual. My partner wanted a school that allows children to be children, to pursue their imagination and to participate in free play. HEI Schools hit all the marks for both of us.

Family from HEI Schools Lara

Australia

It's difficult to write in a few words to explain how much we love Hei School Senayan. My kid wants to go to School even on weekends and term breaks. I see him very happy and smiling even when he just speaks about Hei and what he did in Hei. Thanks, Hei for making the school such a fun space for our kids.

Family from HEI Schools Senayan

Indonesia

Our daughter had been at another center and was not particularly enjoying daycare. Since coming to HEI Schools she has become a completely different kid! She is confident, way less anxious and absolutely loves her teachers. She is always learning something new and enjoys going every day. Couldn’t recommend HEI Waurn Ponds enough!

Family from HEI Schools Waurn Pond

Australia

My son has been going to HEI Schools for the past two years and he’s been having a great experience. He brings a lot of the benefits of Finnish education home with him like “Clean Up Time”. After playing with toys at home, he sings a clean-up song and puts everything away. I know that I didn’t teach him that! The Finnish approach develops the w hole child and not just academics, so I know my son will be more successful in life from his experience at HEI.

Family From HEI Schools Riyadh

Saudi Arabia

The environment is welcoming and warm. Staff at Dandenong North are friendly and authentically nurturing, supportive, and passionate about our children's development. They believe in the Finnish early learning philosophy and this is demonstrated in the activities that the children participate in during the day. They are accommodating and recognize that learning for each child is different. We have had such a wonderful experience with our Centre!

Family from HEI Schools Dandenong

Australia

As parents, we can feel the difference HEI Schools has made.  We appreciate how this school has not changed the very nature and authenticity of our child. During the past two years, HEI Schools has also helped us grow and build our confidence as parents. We are so happy that we have chosen HEI Schools for our family!

Family from HEI Baotou

China

HEI Schools Brand

When you license the HEI Schools concept, you also get the rights to use HEI Schools brand. We provide the HEI Schools operators with detailed brand guidelines for using the HEI Schools brand.

HEI Curriculum

The HEI Curriculum is inspired by Finnish early education guidelines with an emphasis on play and inquiry-based learning. HEI Curriculum includes everything from age-specific learning objectives to monthly themes, lesson plans designed by Finnish teachers, tutorial videos, and printable materials. Our Curriculum is researched-based and designed together with our co-founder, Professor Lipponen, from the University of Helsinki. Updating the curriculum based on the latest research and future needs is close to our hearts. We strive to provide the world's best early education curriculum!

Learn more about the HEI Curriculum

HEI Teacher Training

Training the teachers is a core part of the Learning Center concept. The training happens in three phases: 1) Local training for the entire teaching staff 2) Mentoring and co-teaching by a Finnish teacher at the local HEI Schools kindergarten 3) Ongoing teacher training on HEI Schools digital curriculum platform.

Learn more about the Finnish style of teacher training

HEI Space Design

A well-designed learning environment supporting the HEI curriculum and pedagogy is one of the key elements of HEI Schools concept. Our space design concept is based on research and it is designed to optimize children's learning and well-being. Natural materials and harmonious colors are proven to reduce children's stress. It is easy to implement everywhere and it makes you stand out in the local market.

Learn more about the HEI Schools design

HEI Support

The ongoing support from the HEI Schools HQ team includes project consultancy support in the set-up phase, monthly pedagogical support to principal and lead teachers and marketing support for reaching your enrolment targets. We also provide you an extensive marketing kit with ready-made marketing assets.

We conduct an annual quality assurance together with your team and work in cooperation with you to ensure the development areas are tackled.

Our bi-monthly Partner Talks offer plenty peer-to-peer learning opportunities, as well as our other community events and 1:1 sessions with other operators or principals.

HEI Community

HEI Community consists of passionate educators implementing Finnish early education around the world. You will have a chance to interact and learn from other HEI Schools partners in multiple different ways. Children at HEI Schools also greet and meet with each other through HEI Connect monthly!

Can the HEI Curriculum be localised?

The HEI Curriculum is a play-based, phenomena-based curriculum that is built on monthly themes and activities that follow that theme. It is based on the Finnish National Early Education Curriculum, but designed to be implemented globally and built to include local customs and traditions.

The HEI Curriculum provides learning objectives for different age groups and those learning objectives can be matched with the local learning objectives.

As many of our kindergartens are based in APAC, we offer as part of the Curriculum a Pre-Primary Package that allows students to reach the level required by many international schools in Asia.

How does the HEI Schools model prepare children for their future learning?

At HEI Schools, children learn all the same academic skills as elsewhere, but with better, researched-proven methods. In addition, the HEI Curriculum, like the Finnish National Core Curriculum, focuses on transversal skills, also called as the 21st Century Skills, which refer to a broad set of knowledge, skills, work habits, and character traits. Children learn to connect their knowledge throughout different subject areas and they acquire skills like communication, collaboration and multi-literacy. These competencies also contribute to children's sense of identity, participation and agency and prepare them for the future.

Are HEI Schools usually international or bi-lingual kindergartens?

HEI Schools around the world are either full international kindergartens or bilingual kindergartens. The HEI model is built to be implemented with local teachers and the partner can then choose to hire native English speaking educators to offer a full international kindergarten experience. As part of the HEI Schools Early Years concept, HEI Schools provides a mentor teacher to co-teach with the local team when the kindergarten opens.

Does HEI Schools provide help with marketing?

Yes, when you license the HEI Schools Learning Center concept, you will receive an extensive marketing kit that includes a website template, social media templates, ready-made brochures, business cards, posters and other promotional materials. Furthermore, our marketing coordinator will hold regular calls with your marketing team to ensure that you have all the tools you need for successful marketing.

What is the HEI Schools Community?

HEI Schools connects its partners around the world in many ways. All HEI Schools centers use HEI Schools Hub, a digital curriculum platform that includes all curriculum and ongoing training materials and that allows HEI Schools teachers to connect with each other. Partners also meet during Management Training and other community events. HEI Schools also creates many ways for partners to learn from each other and share best practises.

To learn more about the other operators of HEI Schools around the world, check out our case studies!

Why is space design an important feauture of HEI Schools concept?

HEI Schools has been awarded for excellence in design. Design is not only about beauty, but it has a crucial role in implementing our pedagogical approach and creating the overall experience for children, educators and families. The HEI Space Design is based on research and designed to optimise children's learning and wellbeing. The HEI Learning Environment and Learning Aids are designed to work together with the HEI Curriculum.

Bring Finland's Early Education to your region

We have HEI Schools kindergartens/preschools at every corner of the globe, will your region be our next stop?

Discover HEI Schools' award-winning Early Years concept brought to life by our schools around the world

Feedback about our HEI Schools worldwide