Kindergarten and Schools - Settle in Estonia programme

Kindergarten and Schools

HANDBOOKS

Estonia: State, Society and Language

Private and Public Services

Working and Labour Market

My Rights and Responsibilities

Networking, Volunteering and Leisure Time

Kindergarten and Schools

Higher Education and Research

Children and Family

Residence and Citizenship

Business and Entrepreneurship

1. Education in Estonia

2. Before School

2.1. Kindergarten

How to find a kindergarten and how to apply?

Daily life at the kindergarten

When are kindergartens open and what are the costs?

Kindergartens in bigger cities

2.2. Childcare

How to prepare your child for kindergarten or childcare

3. School

3.1. Municipal schools that service catchment areas

3.2. Basic schools that choose the students

3.3. Private schools

3.4. Schools for children with special needs

3.5. Estonian school or international school?

3.6. Basic school: Grades 1-9

3.7. General secondary education: grades 10-12

3.8. Strengths and challenges of the Estonia school

4. Daily Life at School

4.1. School times and subjects

4.2. Rights and duties at school

4.3. E-school

4.4. Social environment and psychological support

4.5. If your child has problems

4.6. School violence and bullying

4.7. Costs related to school attendance

5. Multilingual Child

6. Study Opportunities for Adult Working People

7. Vocational Education

7.1.

INTRODUCTION

Dear reader,

Thank you for participating in the “Settle in Estonia” programme. Our programme has been designed for foreigners who have decided to move to Estonia and our courses have been available to new arrivals since 2015. Whether your reason for choosing Estonia is based on your family connections, work, study or business interests, our programme is here to help you settle in and nd your feet in a new country.

The handbook you currently have in front of you is designed to act as a reference point you can use even after the course has nished. We hope it will be useful to you during your rst years in Estonia and will help you nd the correct and up-to-date information on the subject you are interested in. The handbook is updated on a regular basis to make sure the information contained in it is accurate. You can nd the details of the current issue on the back cover. When new versions become available, you can nd them on the website: issuu.com/settleinestonia

This handbook has been prepared to help newcomers to Estonia understand how the education system works. It gives an overview of early childhood services and schools to get a picture of di erent levels of education, from kindergarten to upper secondary education.

This handbook addresses the topics such as nding a kindergarten, choosing between local and international schools, daily routine at educational institutions, learning foreign languages. The handbook gives a brief overview of vocational education.

Tere tulemast Eestisse! Welcome to Estonia!

Head lugemist! Have a good read!

1. EDUCATION IN ESTONIA

Ükski meister ei kuku taevast

No expert falls from the sky

Estonian educational system is divided into pre-school education, primary education, secondary education, vocational education and higher education.

The latter – higher education - is not covered in this handbook, but you can nd more detailed information in the handbook on higher education and research. For the overall overview of the Estonian system of education, please see graph one below.

Education in Estonia is compulsory between ages 7 and 16. This means that if you have a child of this age, they have to attend school until basic education is acquired or, until the age of they attain 17 years old. Optionally, your child can also be homeschooled (EE: koduõpe).

In the Estonian general education system, there are both public and private institutions at all levels of education. The pre-school education (kindergarten) comes with a fee, but general public education in Estonia is free of charge. There are schools where the main language of instruction is Estonian, as well as some schools with Russian and English as the main language of instruction. Some considerations to make when choosing a school for your child are outlined in chapter 2.5.1.

Studies are conducted in accordance with uniform national curricula, which serves as a basis for schools to compile their own curricula.

Graph 1: Stages of the Estonian system of education

PhD

Integrated master’s degree

Life- long learning Lifelong learning

Master’s degree

Bachelor’s degree Professional education

Secondary education Vocational education

Basic Education

Pre-primary education

Education is deemed important in Estonia: 80% of all young people get an upper secondary education, i.e. graduate from the gymnasium. However, around 10% of young people do not go any further than a basic education (9 grades) and there are regional di erences. There are regions where around 20% of primary school graduates continue in vocational education rather than with gymnasium studies and areas where the share of young people choosing vocational education amounts to 40%. While Estonian education is deemed good in several studies and Estonian students shine in global PISA tests, studies also show that Estonian education could focus more on creative, entrepreneurial, and problem-solving skills.

2. BEFORE SCHOOL

Pre-school education or early-childhood education is available for children between 18 months and 7 years old. Until then, families receive parental bene t, which means that one of the parents stays home with a child (usually the mother, but stay-at-home fathers is a growing trend in Estonia). However, if childcare is needed before 1,5 years, the parents typically nd private childcare.

Pre-school education is not mandatory in Estonia and, therefore, the parents can choose to keep the child at home until the schooling age (7 years). However, this means that there is also an adult who stays at home with the child. In Estonia, it is generally considered that a child is old enough to stay at home alone for a couple of hours around the age of 6-8 years, provided, of course, that parents have taught them how to do it safely.

Pre-school education in Estonia is not called a school, but kindergarten (EE: or ); however, children in pre-schools receive teaching in di erent subjects according to the state curricula. Children who have passed the pre-school curriculum will be issued a school readiness chart/map that records the child's development. The parents will submit the chart to the school where the child will be enrolled.

2.1. KINDERGARTEN

As far as preschoolers' development is concerned, the parents are primarily in charge and have to support the child's learning of skills consciously. In addition to the parent's e orts, kindergartens help children take their rsts steps towards education.

Kindergarten attendance is not mandatory, but the majority (81%) of children aged 1.5–3 years and almost 94% of children aged 4–7 years attend kindergarten before school. Most children spend there around 30+ hours per week. These families who prefer that their children stay at home, often choose to participate in di erent activities organised by either a pre-school institution or a hobby school.

When translating webpages to English, di erent municipalities may use di erent translations for the word "lasteaed", the most common being "kindergarten" or "nursery school".

There are two types of kindergartens in Estonia – municipal (91%) and private (9%). The language of instruction in most kindergartens is Estonian, whereas in about 13% of kindergartens the language of instruction is Russian (but Estonian is taught as a second language 2 to 4 times a week). Since 1.09.2024 the language of instruction in all the kindergartens is Estonian. English-speaking kindergartens in Estonia are privately owned. In addition to kindergartens, there are childcare services provided by the private sector. You can read more about childcare services further below in chapter 2.3.

2.1.1. How to nd a kindergarten and how to apply?

The pre-school education is the responsibility of the local municipality (city government or rural municipality of the village you live in), so once you know where you will be living in Estonia, you can contact your municipality and ask what you need to do to get a kindergarten placement for your child. You can choose the kindergarten you nd suitable but only if there are vacant places. It is in your best interest to apply for the place as early as possible. Some cities and villages have information about kindergartens on their webpage in English; some do not. Also, the registration systems can vary, so contacting the municipality (EE: linnaosavalitsus) is the best way to get an overview of your options. We suggest it may be easier to send an e-mail rst and ask to be referred to a relevant person who speaks English. If you speak Russian, you can ask about this as well; considering many older people have more experience speaking Russian rather than English.

Availability of kindergarten places varies from one municipality to another. Local municipalities must ensure a place in a kindergarten for every child from age 3. However, in some cities, it might not be possible to immediately get a place in public kindergarten due to the lack of places; in this case, kids are added to a waiting list. If this is the situation, you can look for a private kindergarten or a private babysitter (nanny) to manage until the place becomes available.

Migrant kids right to kindergarten

There has been an ongoing debate about children whose parents are on long-term visas (also called long-stay visa D) rather than temporary residence permits. The discussion has revolved around whether kindergartens and schools have to take a child who does not have a residence permit.

Mostly, kindergartens will accept a child only if she or he has a residence permit. Therefore, if you are in Estonia with long-term visa, try municipal kindergartens but, due to this ongoing discussion, be prepared that you may be limited to private kindergartens.

If you have trouble nding a school, you can contact the Ministry of Education and Research.

2.1.2. Daily life at the kindergarten

Children are mostly divided into groups according to age, but in some kindergartens or childcare groups can also be mixed and are not dependent on the child's age.

The youngest kids are in the nursery group (usually 1,5-3 years of old), which has up to 14 children, and a kindergarten group for older kids (3-7 years old) can have up to 20 children.

It is expected that at the age when most kids start with kindergarten (around 3 years), children can already manage simpler self-service tasks (for example, dress themselves, drink from a cup and use a spoon). The children are also expected to know how to use a toilet. If your child does not know these things yet, it would be good to discuss it with the kindergarten so that the kindergarten will be more prepared. You can also ask at the kindergarten for tips on how to support your child in acquiring these skills at home.

There is usually one adult (teacher) per 7 children in nursery groups and one adult per 10 children in kindergarten groups. Most kindergartens have one teacher (EE: or, sometimes, ) and one assistant teacher at work at a time. The teachers mostly have education in pedagogy.

The national curriculum for kindergartens

Kindergartens have to follow the Estonian national curriculum, which de nes the topics of pre-school development and education as follows:

Me and the environment

Language and speech

Mathematics

Arts

Music

Physical activity

Kindergartens follow a daily schedule. While the schedules di er between kindergartens, most often, a child' mostly, child's day in a kindergarten includes three meals (a breakfast, lunch and a pre-dinner snack), free playtime indoors and outdoors, organised study activities and a ca. 2-hour rest period in the middle of the day. It is usually expected in Estonian kindergartens that children of all ages have a nap around noon to rest properly. However, some kindergartens nd alternatives and children who do not wish to sleep might also just have some quiet playtime in another room.

Kindergartens hold joint celebrations of national and folk holidays, sometimes preparing concerts for special occasions where the children perform for the parents (for example, Christmas, Mothers' Day, Fathers' Day etc). See more on Estonian history, culture, and traditions in the handbook on Estonian state, society and culture.

In Estonia, the most traditional and known activites are gyms with babies (EE: ) and singing (EE: ) that often is started already during pregnancy and continued after that with baby; in bigger cities there is multitude of other activites, for instance, dance and movement or nature schools where kids can start already around 1-2 years of age. You can also read about hobby education in general in the handbook on networking, volunteering and leisure time.

Parents' challenge: what is needed for the kindergarten?

Coming from another climate and a di erent kindergarten system poses the challenge of not always knowing what your kid needs to be supplied with.

While it is not possible to compile the exact list of things, parents from other countries have been surprised by having to get pyjamas for naptime, inside shoes, rain/snow pants etc.

Since preparing these things is natural to Estonian parents, the teachers at kindergartens might not think of reminding those who are not born and raised in Estonia. So just ask the kindergarten to help you prepare with a list of things that will be needed!

2.1.3. When are kindergartens open and what are the costs?

Kindergartens are open on workdays around the year. The opening times vary, but they usually are open between 7:00 and 18:30, with organised time (meals, educational activities etc) between 9:00 and 16:00. Kindergartens are closed on national holidays and have a vacation period in the summer for 1-1,5 months. If you'd like your child also to attend kindergarten in the summer, it is possible to get a replacement spot in another kindergarten of the same region. Ask more about opening times in the speci c kindergarten you are considering for your child.

Whether your child attends the municipal kindergarten or the private kindergarten, both come with a fee. Private kindergartens set their own fees individually, but the fee is similar to the municipal kindergartens in some cities or under certain conditions. To know how it is in your city, please contact the local municipality.

In public kindergarten, costs are regulated by the local municipality. Costs can vary and may depend on several factors such as: the municipality, cost of meals and sometimes a number of children from the same family. Public kindergarten costs are divided into two parts: the kindergarten placement fee and the fee for meals. The placement fee can never be higher than 20% of the minimum wage. In some municipalities in Estonia, like Tartu, the second child's fee is reduced if you have two children who are attending the kindergarten at the same time.

Kindergarten costs: example

In a public kindergarten in Tallinn, the placement fee could be 88,45 euros per month plus money for meals 2,68 - 3,5 euros per day. In this case, the total cost per month would amount to around 100-130 euros.

Other expenses may be occasionally added to these costs. For example, for, such as excursions, eld trips and celebrations, Christmas presents to kids or tickets to theatre performances.

2.1.4. Kindergartens in bigger cities

TALLINN

There are more than 120 pre-school institutions in Tallinn: nurseries, kindergartens and few schools have kindergarten groups.

Information about pre-school institutions can be found here: tallinn.ee/et/haridus/uldinfo

Residents of Tallinn may choose any public kindergarten for their child that has vacancies. When choosing a kindergarten, it is recommended to consider the kindergarten's location, the education and study methods used there, and its work language.

An application for admission can be submitted both electronically in an online environment (info.haridus.ee/Lasteaiakoht) or submitted directly to the chosen kindergarten director. An application can also be lled in while visiting the chosen kindergarten.

Tallinn and some other cities have struggled with a shortage of kindergarten placements in certain regions. Therefore, the earlier the application for admission is led, the better. You can also contact the local municipality to nd out the availability of kindergarten places close to your address, in order to put your child on a waiting list if necessary. When o ered a place, it is important to con rm it within the deadline. Otherwise, the child's data will be deleted from the lists of applicants and you'll need to start from scratch.

TARTU

Information about kindergartens in Tartu can be found at the website of Tartu municipality in the section Services and Education at tartu.ee

There are around 40 pre-school childcare institutions in Tartu and application can be led either in the online environment (arno.ee) or at the education department of Tartu city.

NARVA

There are about 17 kindergartens in Narva, which can be found at Narva municipality's website under the section "Education - Pre-schools" at narva.ee. An application for admission should be submitted directly to the director of the chosen kindergarten. It can be lled in while visiting the selected kindergarten.

PÄRNU

There are about 22 pre-school childcare institutions in Pärnu city, which can be found at the website of Pärnu municipality under the section Education and Educational institutions at parnu.ee

Applications can be submitted in the online environment arno.parnu.ee Since the website is in Estonian only, ask for help in lling in the application from the city government (EE: ).

2.2. CHILDCARE

Childcare institutions are usually smaller than kindergartens – babysitters often provide the service in their homes or at speci cally adapted premises. The licensed childcare (EE: ) must comply with the state's minimum requirements but do not have to follow the national curriculum for pre-school institutions.

Many childcare providers o er the parents childcare conditions not available in kindergartens, for example, babysitting or childcare at unusual hours. This opportunity is often used by parents who need to return to work before the child becomes 18 months old, so their child does not yet qualify for a municipal nursery or kindergarten, or if the parents' work hours do not t with the open hours of kindergartens. Some parents prefer private childcare or babysitters because of smaller groups.

The parent usually covers the costs of childcare services. Yet, your local municipality (home city or rural municipality) may have resources to support your child's childcare, especially if there is a shortage of kindergarten placements, and your home city or rural municipality cannot o er a suitable kindergarten placement for your child. To nd out about such an opportunity, contact your local municipality and ask who is responsible for kindergartens and childcare.

What's the di erence between kindergarten and childcare?

In Estonia, regardless of ownership (public or private), one can come across two main types of organised childcare: kindergarten (EE: ) and childcare (EE: ).

The kindergartens are more regulated and they have to provide pre-school education according to state-approved curricula. Childcare facilities have to comply with minimum safety requirements but are free to decide how they provide educational activities. Compared to kindergartens, the parent has a more signi cant responsibility in agreeing on the childcare conditions with the provider. However, childcare can have added bene ts such as more exible schedules, smaller groups or educational topics that might not be included in municipal kindergarten. Parents are recommended to investigate the childcare providers' preparation and experience beforehand to decide whether the particular childcare suits their expectations and needs suitability.

2.2.1. How to prepare your child for kindergarten or childcare

Starting kindergarten in a new country might be overwhelming for both parent and child.

We hope these tips will help ease you into the new environment:

Most children need some time to adapt. Be prepared to start with shorter times at the kindergarten. Preparing to start small will allow you to gradually increase the time as your child becomes more comfortable with their surroundings.

Before the rst day in a kindergarten, pay a visit there and take your child with you. Talk to your child about what activities are done in each room. Let the child look around and play.

Take a couple of minutes to plan your time accordingly, so you do not have to rush away immediately to leave your child at the kindergarten. This is especially important at the beginning of the transition, because leaving abruptly may stress the child and make it more di icult for him or her.

Children can be afraid of the unknown. Therefore, ask about the kindergarten routine and explain it in an easy way to your child –what will he or she be doing there (e.g. eating, having a nap, going outside etc).

Ask teachers about the main rules so you can explain them to your child, for example, to put toys back on the shelves or in the boxes when done, to not take things by force from other children etc.

Never threaten your child with going to kindergarten (do not use arguments such as "if you're going to be a bad boy, you will have to go to kindergarten tomorrow instead of staying home with mom")

If you have questions or doubts, please do discuss them with the kindergarten!

Parenting advice!

Raising children is not an easy task! While we often assume that knowledge on handling di icult situations is almost inborn, it is not. Many parents feel that there are situations where they'd like to have advice.

In Estonia, there are parenting programmes. For example, the National Institute for Health Development runs such programs (tarkvanem.ee/ koolitused/imelised-aastad/) and also an online portal where questions can be asked (tarkvanem.ee/kusi-nou).

If you feel a bit lost, or in doubt and need advice, you can check at your municipality and whether there are such programs and how to contact people who are running them. Currently, the service is in Estonian and Russian, but it is worth asking from the programs if occasional advice could be given in English. You may also try to contact the International Houses (Tartu, Tallinn) or other centres that help new migrants adapt. They might be able to check the options in their areas for you are. Please nd more information on the websites: www.internationalhouse.ee, workinestonia.com/ internationalhouse/

Starting kindergarten in a foreign language

Parents are often worried about how children who do not speak the Estonian language will handle kindergarten. After all, starting kindergarten is a big transition in itself for both the child and the whole family. For a migrant child, it is not only about adjusting to a new environment and routines, but also about doing so in an unfamiliar language!

Estonian kindergartens do have very di erent readiness to take children who do not speak any Estonian, so you can check with the kindergarten if they have had this experience before and what were the challenges. Typically, young children pick up the language rather quickly. You, as a parent, can also support your child in this process.

The rst days when you are also around, ask the teacher to teach your child a few keywords in Estonian and then repeat them in your language. The more times during the rst visits, the better. Some words to consider teaching: (I'm) hungry, thirsty, tired, hurt; pee, poop; (I need) help, water, food, bathroom.

Continue speaking your native language with your child. Living in Estonia, and being in an Estonian-speaking setting all day long, your child will learn Estonian well—so well that, unless you consistently

speak your native language at home, it will disappear from his or her life. Growing up bilingual is such a gift; it's worth the work that goes into making it happen! See Chapter 4 on multilingual children for details.

Be prepared that your child will most likely have a silent period; it is perfectly normal. The younger the child, the longer the silent period tends to last. For details, see chapter 4 on multilingual children.

It is not considered rude to ask questions and express your doubts, as long as you do it calmly and politely. Talk about your concerns to the kindergarten; it is the best way to prevent misunderstanding and later disappointment.

3. SCHOOL

Kordamine on tarkuse ema Repetition is the mother of wisdom

In Estonia, most children start school when they are 7 years old. School attendance is compulsory until either of the following happens:

1) the basic education is completed or 2) the child reaches the minimum school leaving age of 17

You can nd municipal schools, state schools and private schools. Most schools are municipal schools which means that they are owned and run by the local municipality. The education at the municipal and state schools is free; private schools set their own fees.

Voldemar Panso

Stage director and actor

Talent is not a beard that grows by itself.

The primary language of instruction at municipal schools is mostly Estonian, but there are also schools where the main language of instruction is Russian or English. Some schools specialise in teaching a foreign language. Some schools provide IB (international baccalaureate) programme. There are about 390 schools in Estonia that provide general education. Basic education can also be provided by homeschooling upon request.

When does my child need to start school?

Children can start their rst school year if they are 7 years old or will be 7 years by the 1st of October of the current year. There can be exceptions for starting earlier or later, but these need to be agreed upon. For example, children younger than the compulsory school age may start the school if the child is deemed to be school-ready by either kindergarten the child visits or an advisory commission. If the child has reached the compulsory school age but is not school-ready due to health reasons, the parent can apply for the child to start school one year later. In this case, an assessment and a con rmation from a consultative commission is required. To get the consultation, the parent has to contact the educational counselling service Rajaleidja. Please nd more information at the website rajaleidja.ee

3.1. MUNICIPAL SCHOOLS THAT SERVICE CATCHMENT AREAS

Every child of compulsory school age has a right to have a place in a nearby municipal school to which catchment area the child belongs. The school catchment area means that children who live in a certain geographical area are eligible to attend it; these schools are also called the schools of the place of residence. If your child does not have an Estonian residence permit, it might be a bit more challenging to nd a school (even though the school place is guaranteed to all children aged 7 to 17 years regardless of their documents). We recommend you to contact a local municipality in order to obtain a place at school.

Schools of the place of residence do not have admission tests when children start their rst year at school. However, schools may establish spoken interviews and practical tasks for children starting their rst school year to determine their maturity and academic level. Ask more about that from the speci c school you are planning for your child. Even if you might not be able to communicate with all the teachers in English, you'll still get some feeling on the school environment and might get new questions. The more you know in advance, the easier it will be to support your child once he or she is at school.

Did you know?

Many schools have so-called open doors day (EE: ) that gives parents and students a chance to see lessons and to ask questions. Make use of this opportunity!

What documents will I need to enrol my child?

Schools may ask to present di erent documents or copies thereof:

The parent's identity document (passport or ID-card)

Child's passport or ID-card (showing date of birth)

Child's birth certi cate

A document showing right to permanent or temporary residence in Estonia

Some schools may ask you for reports from the previous schools, health certi cate and vaccination information, the kindergarten's recommendation on the child's school readiness etc. You might not have all of them, but if you do, it will help the school to ful l the needs of your child better.

The local municipality manages the process of allocating children to municipal school, so if you are looking for a school to your child, you can submit the relevant application forms to the municipality (see procedure below for bigger cities) or just contact your local municipality (city government or rural municipality) and ask what the exact process is. Sometimes it can be worth visiting the school you would like your child to attend and talk to them.

When the local municipality allocates the child, the main criteria for matching the child and the school is the location. However, other factors can also play in when admitting a child to school, such as a sibling already attending the same school etc. If possible, the parents' choice of school will also be taken into account, but it depends on the availability of places. If free slots are available, the parents of a child may choose another school for the child, i.e. school with another catchment area.

3.2. BASIC SCHOOLS THAT CHOOSE THE STUDENTS

In addition to schools that accept all children from their area, in some cities, some schools that are free to choose their students. It means that they are open to children from all over the city or all over the country, but they have admission tests. If you would like to know whether there are such schools in your area and what are the deadlines for submitting the application, ask your local municipality.

3.3. PRIVATE SCHOOLS

In private schools, the parent needs to approach the school directly and ask if the school is able to have their child and on what conditions. There are more than 50 private schools in Estonia, approximately half of them are in the capital – Tallinn. The private schools in Estonia are mostly chosen for one or several of the following reasons:

Speci c pedagogical approaches that resonate with the parent (e.g. Montessori school, Waldorf school etc)

Cosier atmosphere and a smaller number of children in the class

Religious reasons (e.g. Lutheran School, Tallinn Orthodox School of St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco the Wonderworker)

Linguistic reasons (e.g. International schools with English as the main language of instruction)

Schools usually are having summer vacations from the end of June to mid-August, so if you contact them during this period, you are unlikely to get a quick reply. If you need information during this time, try to contact your local municipality or help centres for foreigners, if they exist in your city, such as, for example, International House (Tallinn, Tartu) or Welcome Center (Tartu). See more on counselling services to foreigners in the handbook of services.

Parents can also choose to give their children primary education through homeschooling. This means that parents are responsible for the child's academic performance and arrange the teaching of necessary subjects themselves (the teaching should follow the standards provided by the state curriculum). The child is still listed at a school, and the school provides the child with curriculum-related materials (textbooks, workbooks, other books, etc) and tests the academic performance of a homeschooled child at least once in six months.

Who decides which grade my child will attend?

As EU citizens, your children have the right to be placed in a class with their own age group, at the equivalent level to their class in your country of origin - regardless of their language level.

If a child comes from a non-EU country or has been studying by a very di erent curriculum, there is no single rule about how to match the previous education with Estonian education. Schools can decide for themselves which grade is most suitable in their view; the exact procedure of decision-making depends on the school (for example, the teachers' council of every school is responsible for separating children into classes). The main factor typically taken into account is the child's age. Completed level of education in the previous school might also be looked at.

If you have a di erent opinion about what grade your child should be in, you can discuss it with the school and explain your reasons; you may also ask about the reasons for the school's decision are.

In case you have tried to discuss it with the school, but you still think the decision is wrong, you may wish to approach the Ministry of Education and Research (hm.ee) for further advice.

3.4. SCHOOLS FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

In Estonia, the question of students with special educational needs is based on the principle of inclusive education, i.e. as a rule, such students attend regular schools. However, if a student's disability or disorder requires a highly specialised organisation of studies or support services, he or she is provided with an opportunity to study in a particular group or attend a speci c school. Parents can choose what suits their child better – a regular or special school.

Some examples of schools for children with special needs:

Tallinn Helen School for children with sensory or speech disabilities: helen.edu.ee

Porkuni School for children with intellectual disabilities: porkunikool.ee

Herbert Masing School for children with learning disabilities: masing.tartu.ee

Tartu Emajõe School for children with sight disabilities: tek.tartu.ee

A child can also get homeschooling (or other out-of-the-school option, for example, day-care centre) due to health reasons. The need for health-based homeschooling needs to be con rmed by a doctor and an advisory board. In this case, the local municipality takes care of homeschooling.

More information about the special education and available schools can be found at the website epikoda.ee/en

What documents will I need to enrol my child?

Schools may ask to present di erent documents or copies thereof:

The parent's identity document (passport or ID-card)

Child's passport or ID-card (showing date of birth)

Child's birth certi cate

A document showing the right to permanent or temporary residence in Estonia (in case you do not have the documents, please get in touch with the local municipality representatives)

Some schools may ask you for reports from the previous schools, health certi cate and vaccination information, the kindergarten's recommendation on the child's school readiness etc.

3.5. ESTONIAN SCHOOL OR INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL?

Choosing the right school for your children when moving to a new country can be a di icult decision. Typical factors to consider are:

The planned length of the stay in Estonia

The age of your child and language(s) your child speaks

Your budget

Ultimately, your choice will come down to whether to send your child to a local public school, a local private school or an international school, and whether the main language of instruction should be in Estonian, English or Russian.

International education

Families that move temporarily and whose budget allows might nd international schools to be the most suitable option. Language and a globally recognised curriculum will allow your child to continue the education smoothly when moving again.

Some parents also nd that intercultural environment of an international school is more suited for them and their kids would settle in better if they are together with other kids of similar background of migration.

In Estonia, there are both private but also public schools that follow International Baccalaureate. You can nd an overview of international programs and schools that use them at the website of the Ministry of Education and Research under the Education, research and youth a airs at hm.ee/en

Estonian Public Schools

If you plan to stay longer in Estonia, then a local public school with Estonian as the main language of instruction might be a right choice.

While at rst, it might demand somewhat more e ort on your side, it helps to immerse your children in the culture and language, get friends and might help you as a family to faster develop a local network. Especially a young child will probably pick up the language quickly.

Estonian schools have a di erent experience in dealing with migrant children. Ask the school about their previous experience, and about what they can see as potential challenges for your family.

International Schools in Estonia mostly use English. If English is not your native language, consider how you can support your child with the acquisition of new language while helping them to develop their native language. Main considerations you should do to achieve successful bilingualism are outlined below in chapter 4.

You might also want to check what programs are implemented in schools you are considering. Many schools that have speci c programs such as anti-bullying program (for example, Kiusamisvaba Kool) or programs that encourage children to move more (for example, Liikuma Kutsuv Kool), or they use the PAX Good Behaviour Game as a method of intervention (EE: ). Some schools o er language immersion classes where 60-100% of teaching is done in Estonian. Asking what type of interventions and programs schools use and how they use them (for example, can they see that it has brought a change at school) might help you to make a more informed decision.

Hobby education

In most municipalities, there is a number of hobby education institutions and organisations that o er a selection of extra-curricular activities in many areas of interest, e.g. art, music, dance, technology, sport, nature and languages. More information about hobby education can be found in the handbook on free time and networking.

3.6. BASIC SCHOOL: GRADES 1-9

The basic school (EE: ) is divided into three stages.

Stage I consists of grades 1 to 3. The most important goal of primary education in addition to subjects taught, is also the development of a younger student, taking into account his characteristics. Children comprehend the basics of a healthy lifestyle and the regulation of their behavior, learn to acquire, show independence and responsibility, as well as acquire the skills of cooperation in various activities. In many schools, rst-grade kids do study in their own part of the building while sharing some joint premises such as canteen with others.

In the rst stage children often have one main teacher who teaches most of the subjects, while in the next stages an increasing number of subject teachers are joining.

Stage II encompasses grades 4 to 6. In addition to subjects taught, the aim is also to help students to become responsible and independent and to maintain their interest in getting new knowledge.

Stage III consists of grades 7 to 9. In addition to becoming knowledgeable in subjects taught, the important objective is also to help pupils develop into responsible members of society, who cope independently in everyday life and who are able to choose a path that conforms to their interests and abilities.

If you would like to know more about the national curriculum for basic schools (EE: ) where the subjects and competencies are outlined, you can nd the English translation at the website of Riigi Teataja at riigiteataja.ee

School-related allowances

Many Estonian local municipalities give nancial support when the child starts their rst year at school. In some local municipalities, nancial support is provided throughout the entire period of schooling to help parents to buy the necessary equipment before the school starts such as pens, notebooks, indoor shoes or sports clothes. Sometimes it is called "school bag support" or "school bag bene t" (EE: or ), also "school allowance". To get more information about whether you can apply for it, you need to contact your local municipality.

Following graduation from the basic school, there are a number of possibilities to continue the educational path. There is a possibility to acquire general secondary education at upper secondary school (gymnasium), get vocational education or move into work-life.

In Estonia, the upper secondary education (i.e. after graduation from basic school, 9 years) is also free of charge and consists of two types of programs:

General education that gives the student access to higher education

Vocational/technical education that quali es often for access to the labour market

3.7. GENERAL SECONDARY EDUCATION:

GRADES 10-12

General secondary education takes three school years and the school is commonly known as, gymnasium (EE: ) or upper secondary school (EE: ). Successful completion of secondary education gives the right to continue studies at the higher education level, e.g. university or applied higher education institution. Secondary education can take place as day studies, evening studies and distance (remote) studies, and graduation is also possible as an external student.

Some secondary schools do have a certain specialisation, e.g. science, arts or other. It means that while all schools must comply with the state curriculum and provide education in compulsory subjects, schools propose elective subjects and courses that are more specialised. A school may have more than one specialisation.

The state and local municipalities must ensure the availability of secondary education to everyone. Admission to gymnasium generally takes place according to the results of graduation from basic school, but in addition, schools have their own rules and order of admission that are usually available on the school's homepage. For example, schools may carry out tests to ll available places.

To graduate from the gymnasium the student needs to complete the curriculum (i.e. pass at a satisfactory level), to pass the state exams (i.e. nal exams, which are Estonian language or Estonian as a second language, mathematics and a foreign language exam), to pass the school exam, and to complete a research paper or practical work (during the gymnasium period).

Mailis Reps

Former Minister of Education

We all remain convinced that the future must be educated, moral and enterprising.

More information on curricula can be found on the website of the Ministry of Education and Research under the Education, research and youth a airs at hm.ee/en

Gymnasium's objective is to help students to become creative, multi-talented, socially mature and reliable citizens who have discovered what they want to do further in life, what suits best their individual interests and capacities.

3.8. THE STRENGTHS AND CHALLENGES OF ESTONIAN SCHOOLS

Strengths

According to OECD's international survey PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) results, Estonian basic education is the best in Europe (in 2019) – Estonia is number one in Europe in all three domains of assessment: in reading, mathematics and science. Estonia's 15-year-olds rank 1st in reading, science and mathematics in Europe; while in the world, Estonia's students rank 5th in reading, 8th in mathematics and 4th in sciences. The PISA results suggest that Estonia's education system is e ective and ensures equity – compared to other countries, there is a large number of students who, despite the socio-economic disadvantage, attain a high level of academic pro ciency. You can follow the news on PISA for example at oecd.org/pisa and other rankings for instance here at educationestonia.org

Source: statista.com

Challenges

In the recent decade, there have been many discussions in Estonia about teachers' salaries and the need to make the profession more attractive. Between 2014-2018, teachers' salaries in Estonia increased by more than 40%; minimum gross salary of the school teacher working full-time is 1749 EUR in Estonia (as of 2023). However, it has not signi cantly increased new young teachers emerging, and many of the Estonian teachers are around 50-59 years old (as of 2023).

Also, social aspects such as diversity and cooperation, coping with uncertainty, and failure need more attention. Since meeting these challenges means a signi cant shift from the traditional approach, schools have di erent opinions and knowledge on how to support students in this process.

Further two signi cant challenges in Estonia both deal with ethnolinguistic issues. For a long time, there were two parallel educational systems: one in Estonian, and one in Russian. After re-independence (i.e. the 1990-ies) there has been a number of attempts to increase the amount of Estonian language in Russian-language schools, the major one being that the schools with Russian as the primary language have partly switched to giving the Estonian language-based instructions. In 2022, the law on the transition to Estonian-language education was adopted. You can read more about the history of Estonia, including the integration policy and ethnic relations, in the handbook on Estonian state, society and culture.

Another new challenge for today's school system is the increase in immigration to Estonia and the increase in Estonian citizens who have lived abroad for years and have now decided to return to Estonia. Children of such parents are typically used to di erent schools and approaches. Also, their knowledge of Estonian (especially, written language) may vary a lot. Several programmes have been implemented and teacher's training, along with other support measures, have been developed to establish a better idea of the multicultural classroom in all Estonian schools. However, quite often, migrant children's educational and social needs are yet to be fully understood at many schools in Estonia. This means that teachers cannot always give the correct answer to your parental request. Therefore, be ready to explain your child's needs and help the sta at school to understand the speci cs of a child with a migration background.

4. DAILY LIFE AT SCHOOL

Kes üle koera saab, saab ka üle saba Whoever gets over the dog will get over the tail

4.1. SCHOOL TIMES AND SUBJECTS

All schools follow a uni ed national curriculum. In basic education, there are two curricula: the national curriculum of primary school and simpli ed curriculum for students for whom regular curriculum is too complicated. Graduating the basic school requires that the student has at least a satisfactory knowledge of the curriculum and passes three basic school graduation exams (Estonian language or Estonian as a second language, mathematics and an exam on a subject that the students can choose from a number of subjects). In addition, the student has to complete a creative project (EE: ) during stage 3 (grades 7 to 9).

To graduate from the basic school, a student must:

Have at least a satisfactory knowledge of the curriculum

Passes three basic school graduation exams (Estonian language or Estonian as a second language, mathematics and an exam on a subject that students can choose from a number of subjects)

Completes a creative project during stage 3 (grades 7 to 9)

Other uni ed standards apply to all schools and they can be found under the Education and Research section at eesti.ee

The broader categories of the national curriculum are Estonian language and literature, foreign languages, mathematics, natural sciences, social sciences, arts, technology (only in basic school), sports and elective subjects, i.e. subjects that children can choose from according to their interest.

Some compulsory subjects might di er from school subjects in the country you are from, for example, in stage I (1st to 3rd grade) children will have swimming lessons as part of sports.

National curriculum (EE: ) for basic schools (EE: ) can be found here: riigiteataja.ee/en/eli/524092014014/consolide and the national curriculum for upper secondary schools (in Estonian and English) can be found at the website of riigiteataja.ee

School meals and lunches

Schools have to provide meals to students of stage I and stage II (i.e. basic education). School lunches are organised by the school owner (mostly, municipality) and have to meet health protection requirements. Almost all children in Estonian schools consume one meal (or sometimes, several meals) a day at school.

The state covers a signi cant share of school lunch costs, but parents also cover a small proportion. Di erent schools have di erent schemes: in many schools, kids up to a speci c grade get free meals. Mostly, schools provide food during lunchtime, but an increasing number of schools has also started to o er breakfast options, porridges being the most used choice.

It happens to many migrants that children need time to get used to school meals. Typically, most kids get accustomed to new tastes.

Since schools are catered in di erent ways (sometimes they just buy it in from a catering company; sometimes there is a kitchen at school), the options of being exible with di erent menus (for example, vegetarian or vegan) di er quite a lot. If your child has an allergy, any food intolerance issues, or cultural limitations, talk it over with the school and the school will tell you what the best solution is. Sometimes the only solution is that child only takes part of the meal (for instance, potatoes and salad, without the meat). Mostly, the reason is not the ignorance of the school, rather than practical issues: individual solutions often cost more.

In any case, it is important to learn that children must replenish their energy during a school day by eating healthy food, so make sure to talk about eating at school with your child and try to nd a solution that is in child's best interest.

The school year begins on the 1st of September and usually ends in middle of June. There are school holidays in autumn (one week in the end of October), around Christmas (usually two weeks) and in spring (one week each in March and April). In the summer, children have long holidays for around ten weeks or more. The Ministry of Education and Research annually determines the exact schedule of the school year. You can nd information about holidays (both national holidays and school holidays) under the section Republic of Estonia and National, public and school holidays at eesti.ee

Private schools may have a di erent holiday schedule, but not less than eight weeks of holiday per academic year, of which two weeks must be during the academic year.

Did you know?

The school year begins on the 1st of September but sometimes, especially when 1st of September is the weekend, the rst school day is postponed to the rst weekday. Traditionally, children bring owers to teachers on the rst day, especially in primary schools.

Most schools start around 8:00 in the morning, but the times can vary from one school to other. In schools with smaller premises and a large number of children, the schools may arrange multi-shift schooling for younger kids. This means that the rst shift will go to school in the morning and the second shift in the afternoon; however, most schools are one-shift schools.

It is quite usual that if parents work full days, the younger children stay at school a bit longer and can participate in di erent activities.

Extended day groups

Many schools have extended day groups which are called "long day group" or "extended day group" (EE: ). These are meant for younger pupils (who, instead of going home and staying there alone until the parents come from work), can stay longer at the school while having free time activities and get help with homework assignments. Choosing pikapäevarühm for your child can involve a small additional fee since children get an extra meal.

4.2. RIGHTS AND DUTIES AT SCHOOL

Maintaining a safe learning environment is very important, and both teachers and students are entitled to this—the health and safety requirements for school equipment, rooms, buildings and territory. However, school safety reaches beyond the physical environment and includes the mental and social environment.

Rights and duties of teachers and children are stated both in nation-wide legislation (for example, Basic Schools and Upper Secondary Schools Act), but also in school's statutes and internal rules.

It is the teachers' task to ensure the psychological and physical safety and health protection of students while the students are in school. It means that teachers may decide to impose certain sanctions on students and also apply speci c support measures.

Support measures could be, for example, carrying out a development interview with a student, creating a unique curriculum for the student, providing a support specialist's service etc.

Sanctions could be, for example, taking into school's custody any items that are not allowed at school (for example, pyrotechnics, drugs, items that can harm health or other items that are stated in school's internal rules). Removing the student from the lesson, asking the child to stay after the lessons (for a maximum time of 1,5 hours) or temporarily removing the child from certain in and out-of-the class activities might also be options.

Both nation-wide legislation (such as Basic Schools and Upper Secondary Schools Act), and also school's statutes and internal rules set out the rights and duties of students. All students have equal rights in school. The main rights of students are: the right to participate in studies prescribed for them in the curriculum, receive additional study help from teachers, and to participate in electing the school's student representation. Students' duties are also related to their studies. I.e. they are obliged to participate in studies prescribed for them in the curriculum, but also, for example, use carefully the school's property and items.

School sta at Estonian schools

School principal: Each school has a school principal, sometimes also called school leader (EE: or ) who is the main person in charge of running and developing the school as an organisation, allocating resources, and managing sta .

Headteacher: Headteacher (mostly called õppealajuhataja) is responsible for aspects that directly concern studies and learning. Headteacher makes schedules and talks to teachers about progress and challenges regarding studies.

Class teacher: This is usually the main contact person at school both for the child and the parent. The class teacher is the person who is responsible for a given class, creates the social climate in the class, and coordinates communication between di erent parties, e.g. between teachers who teach the same class, between teachers and parents. It is important at the rst meeting to discuss how to contact each other (e.g. e-mail, phone)

Support sta : In many schools, there is also support sta such as, for example, psychologist (EE: ), social pedagogue (EE: ), activity manager (EE: ) and special education teacher (EE: ) who support children and teachers.

4.3. E-SCHOOL

Most Estonian schools use web applications that are meant to organise information between parents, teachers and children. The two most widely used web applications for schools in Estonia are eKool (ekool.eu/en) and Stuudium (stuudium.com), but schools might also use other resources.

E-school gives the parent an opportunity to more closely follow the learning process and child performance.

Teachers take notes on the child's academic and social progress, report on attendance and behavior, and post daily homework assignments. They also use the web application to send messages to parents, students or entire classes.

Parents can see their children's homework assignments, grades, attendance information and teacher's notes, as well as communicate directly with teachers via the system.

Students can read their own grades and keep track of what home work has been assigned each day.

If you have not used such an online system before, it might take a bit of time to get used to it. It might also be challenging to understand what information is essential and what is not if everything is in Estonian. However, it is worth the e ort to try to understand at least the most important elements; otherwise, you might miss some critical information. If you cannot gure out how to use the system, ask the school to help and tell your child's class teacher (and/or your main contact person at school) that you are not using it. In this case, the school might agree to (temporarily) inform you using other channels.

Usually, especially for younger children, the class teacher also holds a parental meeting in addition to communication in online environments.

Grades

School students' skills in Estonia are mostly assessed on a scale from one to ve:

5 – very good

4 – good

3 – satisfactory

2 – poor

1 – fail

The lowest "pass" level is 3 – "satisfactory".

Schools are also allowed to use their assessment systems which may di er (provided in relevant school documents). In lower grades, especially in stage I (grades 1 to 3), teachers often do not use grades; they only provide a verbal feedback.

4.4. SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT AND PSYCHOLOGICAL SUPPORT

Estonian schools can be very di erent depending on size, local municipality priorities, location etc. The di erences can manifest both in schools' physical facilities as well as school climate and school culture. Teaching practices, the relationships between teachers, parents, and students, set of beliefs and values and assumptions ultimately de ne not only how the child generally feels at school but also impacts the learning itself.

Estonian schools have traditionally prioritised so to say "technical" aspects of learning (amount of materials, grades, reproducing the information received in lessons correctly) and the children's ability to follow the rules and behave. In recent decades, there has been increasingly more discussion about school climate and school culture, children's and teacher's wellbeing, and bullying.

The importance of school climate has also meant that it is easier to talk about issues, and schools are more receptive to improving unwanted situations.

Many schools have school psychologists (EE: ) whose task is to prevent problems in the school, intervene if necessary, and counsel the people related to the school. A school psychologist works with the school's children, parents, and sta .

School psychologists' role is not limited to helping problematic students; a child can go to a school psychologist if he or she is worried about something, unable to cope with daily obligations, is a victim of emotional, psychological, physical or sexual bullying or knows someone else who is. A child could also go to a school psychologist if he or she has problems with communicating, addictions, con icts with next of kin or a teacher, feels alone, has lost a relative, or has otherwise experienced something negative.

A parent could go to a school psychologist if his or her child's behaviour has changed remarkably if the child cannot cope with his or her duties, if cooperation with contact teacher has not solved the child's problems in school, or if there is suspicion that the child has problems with addiction or school bullying. You can nd the school psychologist's contact data on the school's website. On bullying, see more in the handbook on family and children.

4.5. IF YOUR CHILD HAS PROBLEMS

A child at any age can encounter problems that come with the change of everyday environment. If a child's behaviour suddenly di ers from his or her usual behaviour for a longer time, causes continued con icts with parents and friends or starts a ecting the child's health, it is important to help the child. The rst step could be contacting the class teacher, asking if they also see problems with the child. You can also contact psychologist, special education teacher (EE: ) or other support teachers your child's school might have and discuss your worries with them.

If you have tried to speak with school and your worries continue, you can, as next step, turn to special centres called Rajaleidja centres. Rajaleidja counselling centres have four types of specialists: a speech therapist, a special education expert, a psychologist, and a social pedagogue. A speech therapist can recommend techniques to improve and develop the child's speech and communication skills. A special education expert can help to determine the child's academic level and educational needs. A psychologist advises in case of problems with emotions, communication and behaviour (anxiety, mood swings, depression) and counsels the adults who deal with the child on how to support the child. A social pedagogue can help the child who comes across social problems: how to deal with health issues, bullying, refusal to go to school etc.

Where to get more information

There are Rajaleidja centres in every Estonian county, and the service is free for parents. The contact information is in Estonian only, but you can see from addresses, which city they are in, and/or check on Rajaleidja general phone number/e-mail (see "üldkontaktid": + 372 735 0700, rajaleidja@harno.ee) rajaleidja.ee/keskused/

4.6. SCHOOL VIOLENCE AND BULLYING

Prevention of school violence is an essential topic for all Estonian schools and kindergartens. Several programmes to prevent school bullying have been implemented in Estonia, like "Bully-free kindergarten and school" and "KiVa – Bully-free School". However, despite the general principle that any kind of bullying is wrong, it may still happen that a child becomes a victim of bullying or bullies someone. Bullying can occur both in a school setting, but also online since children in Estonia use smartphones a lot.

If you think that your child or any other child has school bullying-related problems, the rst contact is the child's class teacher. If discussing the issues and trying to nd a solution together does not work, it is possible to involve other specialists at the school, such as the school psychologist or the social pedagogue. If the school has no support specialist, you can turn to the Rajaleidja centre of your county (see above) and ask for advice on how to handle the problem.

Di erent organisations provide support and counselling in case of children's problems such as:

Tallinn Child Support Centre lastetugi.ee

Tallinn Family Centre pk.ee

Tartu Child Support Centre

Tartu Educational Support Centre

Family Centre "Sina ja mina" ("You and Me") sinamina.ee

Child Aid lasteabi.ee

Read more about bullying in the handbook on families and children.

4.7. COSTS RELATED TO SCHOOL ATTENDANCE

Estonian public schools are free of charge. However, it does not mean that there are no costs involved. The usual supplies the child will need are: school-bag (usually a backpack); pens, notebooks, pencils, erasers etc; indoor shoes and sports clothes and shoes and sometimes also schools might ask to bring some materials for handicrafts etc.

The basic school must give students free access to educational literature (e.g. textbooks, workbooks, exercise-books and worksheets) that is required for the completion of the school curriculum. At the gymnasium level, access to at least textbooks should be free.

A. H. Tammsaare Writer

A student must be sober because it is more di icult to learn than to teach.

In addition to costs directly related to studies, schools do have di erent side-activities that are also educational. Mostly they are free if they are obligatory (e.g. transportation for going to the forest as part of nature lesson), but sometimes classes go to the theatres, museums, hikes, Christmas party with gifts to children etc. In these cases, extra costs might be involved.

It is also expected that parents among themselves decide to give a gift to the class teacher, e.g. by the end of the year, and especially when the class is graduating. Then parents discuss what could be a present and gather the money among all families.

SCHOOLS IN LARGER CITIES

TALLINN

You can nd an overview of schools in Tallinn at the webpage of Tallinn city (tallinn.ee) which is also available in English. An application for the admission to rst grade at a school of residence can be submitted in the rst two weeks of March (1-15.03) either electronically via eKool or on paper at Tallinn Education Department. Approximately two months after that, the local municipality will let the parents know which school their children will be allocated to, and during the next couple of weeks, the parent has to inform the school whether the child will attend the school or not. Starting from around mid-June, parents can also apply for the vacant positions directly to the schools.

TARTU

See more at tartu.ee/en/general-education-schools

NARVA

There are 11 schools and gymnasiums in Narva. See more at the website of narva.ee/koolid

PÄRNU

Information about education in Pärnu region (not just in the city) can be found at the website pol.parnumaa.ee/education

5. MULTILINGUAL CHILD

Oskus ei küsi leiba

Skill doesn't ask for bread

Bilingualism/multilingualism refers to a person being able to speak two or more languages uently. Although your child might not be or become fully bilingual or multilingual, especially if entering the school system at an older age, still, the principles of promoting a successful mastering of second or third languages are similar, and it is essential that parents know them.

Additive bilingualism is when a student's rst language continues to be developed while they are learning their second language. It means that the family has a desire to maintain both the rst language and Estonian. Subtractive bilingualism, however, is when a student learns a second language at the expense of their rst language. In this case, the child will usually lose the ability to speak their rst language over time.

The Estonian schools have a very di erent experience and knowledge about supporting the acquisition of the second language. Politically, re-independence and integration of minorities have been closely tied to language-related issues, so for some people, the topic can be quite symbolic and ideological.

Combined with a certain lack of academic knowledge on second language acquisition, school and kindergarten teachers sometimes might provide outdated advice – with the best intentions.

Therefore, it is essential that you, as a parent, know the main principles.

Myths and facts about bilingualism

Educators thought for decades that learning two languages at once would hinder a child's literacy development. Now, however, research has proven that this is precisely the opposite. In fact, bilingual children often have an academic advantage compared to their monolingual peers.

The cognitive bene ts of being bilingual lead to skills that boost every aspect of a child's academic career and impact the rest of their lives. In some cases, learning two languages at a time may slow language development of the child in comparison with monolingual children –it is normal and temporary. If in doubt, whether you are still inside the "normal" process, you can ask the school to suggest a specialist to you, but it is also a good idea to ask for the advice from the appropriate organisations. Please have a look at harno.ee to get more information.

In Estonia, some teachers can still exhibit a monolingual bias while teaching. It means that instead of prioritising a pro ciency in both Estonian and the student's rst language, a teacher's only goal is for the student to learn Estonian. Sometimes this bias comes with faulty advice to parents (e.g. teachers suggest parent to start speaking Estonian with their child). Dropping your natural language can often lead to many negative consequences, and it does not help in terms of acquiring Estonian. It is the opposite: Estonian-language learners would usually be more likely to strengthen their reading abilities if their rst language is maintained.

A language is an important tool and element of identity. While the language development of bilingual children can be slightly slower in the start, it has many bene ts in the future. It allows your child to communicate with the family, access the information and improve their opportunities in the labour market.

To maintain your child's native language, you need to consider these important points.

Be consistent and speak only your native language to your child, especially when they are still at school (one person speaks one language to the child). Try not to mix the languages. That is, when you talk to your child in your native language, do not mix it with Estonian (or English) in phrases or sentences. However, you shouldn't be surprised if your child mingles words of both languages in one sentence, or transfers the structure of the sentence from one language to other for a while. When it happens, just casually repeat the sentence (e.g. replace it with the correct word) in the language you are using without making too much fuss.

Provide your kid with quality input in your native language. Children learn new words from the environment around them, so they depend on the input that you provide to them. Use rich vocabulary during your interactions with your child and encourage your child to ask questions to learn the new language. Make sure that your input is consistent day after day and that your child learns the vocabulary from di erent life situations. Playful interactions amongst your family such as singing, dancing, and/or playing in your native language are always good. Forcing your child to learn a language by sitting and drilling them might lead to children rejecting the language. Remind yourself that children also learn through play! Also, songs from your culture, nursery rhymes and games are a great way to keep some cultural elements alive when living in a new country. Of course, reading books in your native language is also important. All in all, give your child a present and give them the ability to speak several languages uently.

Silent period. When acquiring the second language, children often have a time that is called "silent period". When children are rst exposed to a second language, they focus a lot on listening and understanding. It often makes them very quiet, because focusing on a new language can require much work on their side. The younger the child, the longer the silent period tends to last. Older children may remain in the silent period for a few weeks or a few months, whereas preschoolers may be relatively quiet for a year or even more.

In Estonia, if student´s mother tongue is not the same as the language of instruction at the school, it might be possible to study the mother tongue as an elective subject.

To use this opportunity, there should be at least 10 students with the same mother tongue at the same school, and parents should submit an application to the director of the school.

Often, however, this might not be the case, that one school has a su icient number of students for whom the same language is the native language. Then you can consider nding same-language families whose children are in the neighbouring schools and propose respective schools to make a joint e ort to provide the lessons to students of several schools. In some cities, some organisations that support foreigners to settle in (e.g. International House Estonia, International House Tartu, Welcome Center Tartu), that might be able to help you to nd other same-language speakers.

Give your child a gift: the ability to speak several languages uently!

6. STUDY OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADULT WORKING PEOPLE

If you are an adult and you are working, but still want to educate yourself further, there are di erent options.

Basic/Secondary education: It is possible to complete un nished basic or general secondary education even as an adult. Some schools operate in the evening time and the possibility for remote studies or as an external student.

Vocational education: It is possible to acquire vocational education in part-time studies.

Higher education: It is also possible to acquire higher education in part-time studies or as an external student.

Additionally, instead of or in addition to formal education, there are di erent training courses in many private schools, applied educational institutions, professional higher education institutions and universities, informal training and cultural centres. Check the handbook on volunteering, free time and networking to get more information.

Costs

The acquisition of general secondary education and vocational education in the state and municipal-owned institutions is free. Higher education study placements funded from the state budget are free for the student, if

Full-time studies are chosen; and

The student has not previously had higher education studies that might prevent additional studies from being cost-free;

Studies can be continued for free if the mandatory curriculum of past semesters is always ful lled.

Higher education studies are chargeable if:

Part-time studies are chosen when starting studies,

A student was expelled from the same curriculum within the last 2 years, regardless of whether they had a free placement or paid tuition fees,

The student has studied for free (in a placement paid for by the state budget) on the same higher education level for more than half the nominal duration of the curriculum or has completed the studies and his or her admission was less than 3 nominal durations (2 in integrated studies) ago.

Work-related training and informal training are typically paid for by the student or his or her employer. The state supports the participation in training through the taxation system.

Some trainings expenses of an adult (and an adult's child) can be exempt from the taxation.

7. VOCATIONAL EDUCATION

Tänasida toimetusi ära viska homse varna

Don't leave it for tomorrow what you can do today

Vocational education can be obtained both on a secondary school level and in a applied higher education institution. For higher education institutions, check the handbook on higher education and research. In some cases, a student can enter a vocational school with un nished basic education; there are a number of professions that can be acquired without basic education, e.g. gardener assistant, assembling electronic devices, beautician jobs, chef assistant, deckhand at a ship etc. Some vocational education schools also have a dorm where students from other cities can live.

The proportion of school-based learning and practice di ers from one speciality to other. Some professions do require more theoretical framework and most of the learning takes place at schools. Some professions are taught as work-based studies, which means that at least 2/3 of learning happens at the workplace and 1/3 takes place at school.

7.1. CATEGORIES OF VOCATIONAL EDUCATION

Vocational education is divided into 4 levels (from 2 to 5). The levels refer to the quali cation needed to acquire the profession and are set according to the Estonian Quali cations Framework.

LEVEL 2 does not have any requirement as to the previous level of education, which means that also people with an un nished basic education can begin studies. Length of education varies, depending on the profession. This education gives quali cation for more straightforward jobs such as gardener's assistant, logger, assistant cleaner, electronic equipment assembler etc.

LEVEL 3 also does not have any requirement as to the previous level of education, which means that also people with an un nished basic education can begin studies. Length of education varies, depending on the profession. The person who nishes level 3, can work with simpler jobs such as assistant cook, electrician, machine operator etc.

LEVEL 4 requires basic education to enrol (with few exceptions). The graduate obtains secondary education in addition to a profession. Length of the study is at least 3 years and there is a wide choice of possible professions: constructions, mechatronic, electrician, hairdresser, IT-specialist, welder, cook, vehicle technician, orist or clerical sta .

LEVEL 5 training is specialised vocational training and to get admitted, secondary education is required. This education leads to professions that require complicated skills and knowledge and the ability to lead and be responsible for work processes. This level includes, for example, telecommunication specialist, sales organiser, draftsman of wooden and wood-based products, robotic technician, logistician, travel consultant or legal aid assistant.

You can nd an overview of vocational education, including a list of schools that provide it at the Ministry of Education website under, vocational education at hm.ee. Since information about schools and professions is mostly in Estonian, it might also help to discuss your options with the Estonian Unemployment Insurance Fund (EE: , tootukassa.ee). You do not need to be registered as unemployed to get career counselling there.

LIST OF REFERENCES

O icial guides and gateways:

newinestonia.ee – Relocation Guide: Compilation of practical info for new arrivals in Estonia

workinestonia.com/coming-to-estonia/relocation-guide/ e-Estonia Portal: eesti.ee – gateway to all government information and public e-services.

Settle in Estonia: settleinestonia.ee – Your guide to settling in Estonia

Roadmap for coming to Estonia: euraxess.ee

Visit Estonia: visitestonia.com - gateway to travel and sights in Estonia

Study in Estonia: studyinestonia.ee gateway to higher education in Estonia

Research in Estonia: researchinestonia.eu — information and news about research activities in Estonia.

Found in Estonia: foundinestonia.ee — bi-weekly podcast sharing stories of people who have moved to Estonia.

Ministries and other institutions:

Ministry of Education and Research: hm.ee/en – education, research and Estonian language.

Ministry of Social A airs: sm.ee/en – health care, labour, social services.

Ministry of Culture: kul.ee/en — information about the state’s culture, sports, arts and heritage conservation activities.

Ministry of Justice: just.ee/en – legal and criminal policy of the state.

Ministry of the Interior: siseministeerium.ee/en – citizenship, migration, identi cation documents and internal security.

Ministry of Foreign A airs: vm.ee/en – security, business diplomacy and human rights.

Estonian Ministry of Economic A airs and Communications: mkm.ee — economy, entrepreneurship, business-academic cooperation.

The Integration Foundation: integratsioon.ee/en – information about adaptation in Estonia, adaptation programme Settle in Estonia, Estonian language courses, citizenship and Estonian Language houses etc.

Estonian Institute: estinst.ee/en/ – information about Estonian society and culture.

EURES: eures.ee/en – pan-European network for job-seekers.

Unemployment Fund: tootukassa.ee/eng – o icial website of Eesti Töötukassa, which administers the social insurance provisions related to unemployment, and organises labour market services.

Pension Centre: pensionikeskus.ee- information about the Estonian pension system.

Police and Border Guard Board: politsei.ee/en – legal basis for staying in Estonia, identity documents, citizenship.

Police and Border Guard Board Migration Advisors: politsei.ee/en/migration-consultants – free legal advice by PBGB personal advisors about di erent legal grounds to live in Estonia and the necessary documentation

Emergency contacts: 112 - 24/7 emergency telephone number for ambulance, police and rescue workers.

1247 – State helpline for trustworthy governmental information, state measures on coronavirus, psychological rst aid to all in need.

116 006 – Victim support helpline assistance to people who have fallen victim to an o ence, negligence, or mistreatment or experienced physical, psychological, economic, or sexual violence.

1220 – The Medical Counselling Advice Line o ers medical advice (calling from abroad, dial +372 630 4107). 24/7 in Estonian and Russian, between 15.00-17.00 in English

KEYWORDS

schools

kindergartens

vocational education

childcare

grading

teaching

primary education

secondary education

languages

adults

lifelong learning costs

social environment

support

municipal schools

private schools

FURTHER READING

Networking, Volunteering and Leisure Time

Volunteering in Estonia

Leisure activities and free time

Family vacation and kids

Making friends and networking

Youth work and hobby education

Lifelong learning

Estonian working environment

Securing a job in Estonia

Salaries, taxes and returns

Working rights and contracts

Skills and language in Estonia

Pension and health insurance

Private and Public Services

Working and Labour Market

Relocation and belongings

Counselling and mentoring

Residence and housing

Identity documents

Transportation

Local media and information

Residence and Citizenship

Education in Estonia

Moving to Estonia

Residence and registration

Naturalisation and citizenship

Estonian migration policy

Visas

Kindergartens and childcare

Schools in Estonia

Learning languages

Studying for adults

Vocational education

My Rights and Responsibilities

Family and Children

Rights and opportunities

Offences and misdemeanours

Protection from violence and abuse

Relevant support

Child protection

Business and Entrepreneurship

Economic and business environment

Entrepreneurship and startups

Setting up a company in Estonia

Legislation, taxation, and accounting

Employer's perspective on staff

Legal aspects and forms for companies

Estonian state and its structure

Political and legal system

Culture, perceptions and habits

Geography

Estonian language

Opportunities for learning Estonian

Higher Education and Research

Estonia: State, Society and Language

Overview of higher education

Academic life and available resources

Networking and support for students

Research in Estonia and its essence

The state of research

Funding framework

Contracting companies: Expat Relocation Estonia OÜ

Design and layout: Richard Kaarna, richardkaarna.com

Printing: Printed at Librix Print powered by wabrix.ee

Responsible publisher: Integration Foundation

Settle in Estonia website: www.settleinestonia.ee

The project is co-funded by the European Union via the European Social Fund and by the Republic of Estonia.

Handbook version: April 2024

© 2024 Integration Foundation. All rights reserved.

Provided the use of the work is not carried out for commercial purposes, it is allowed to use it without the author’s permission as established in Chapter IV of the Copyright Act. The Ministry of Culture points to the fact that pursuant to the Copyright Act, in the case of unlawful use of the work, compensation for the patrimonial or non-patrimonial damage caused and delivery of that which was received may among other things be claimed for.