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- My child isn’t yet school age, can I bring them along to the school?
- Absolutely! We offer ‘muskari’ classes (music, games & play) for under 3s, with parental participation. These last approximately 45 minutes. We also have some playmats and toys to help keep pre-school children entertained afterwards whilst you enjoy some coffee and pulla from our café.
- For children over the age of 3 we have multiple classes, which are tailored to the children’s ages and abilities. School day consists of two 45 minute classes with half an hour coffee break in the middle. What is common across all the age groups is that the classes are intended to be enjoyable and educational about Finnish language and culture.
- We don’t have any children. Can we still come to the school?
- Of course! The school is clearly focused on education in Finnish language and culture (especially for children), but a huge part of the school is also to act as a social hub for people in the local area that have links to Finland. You can pop along any time we have a school session. Every three months, we run a special social event as a good opportunity for people to pop along to the school (Christmas party, Midsummer party, and coffee & pulla socials in March and September). Check out our Facebook group for more details.
- We’re interested in coming along, but aren’t sure we can commit to joining every school lesson. What should we do?
- The school is very flexible: you can come as often as you like. For the classes, you can sign up for the whole year, by term, or just pay as you go for the classes you attend (it’s much more cost effective to sign up for the full year).
- Will there be space at the classes for us to join, or can we join part away through the academic year?
- Certainly! We are very flexible about people attending. We always make space for students, and you can start part way through the academic year if that’s what suits you (you can pay for classes one by one, by term or by academic year)
- How is the school operated/funded?
- The school is a non-profit charity (UK registered charity number: 1073421). The school is planned/managed by the unpaid volunteers on the school committee. The school is funded by a combination of an annual grant from Suomi Seura and the money that we raise though school membership fees, lesson fees, and our onsite café and shop. All money raised is invested in the running of the school (teaching expenses, hall rental, etc.).
- We’d like to come along but feel a bit awkward about it as we don’t know anyone there – how will we be welcomed?
- You can be guaranteed a warm and friendly welcome! Everyone there has something in common: links to Finland (they are either Finnish, have a Finnish spouse/partner or perhaps a Finnish parent or parents). As such, there is always something as an easy icebreaker to start the conversation! We’ve had quite a few new families come along to experience the school over the last year, and generally all have commented about what a warm welcome they have felt from the first time they stepped into the school. Come along and see for yourself!
- I really miss Finnish pastries, chocolate and sweets. Can you help!?
- We definitely can! As well as the opportunity to enjoy coffee, usually Juhla Mokka, (or tea!) and Finnish delicacies like mustikkapiirakka, karjalanpiirakat, korvapuustit, or whatever other delicious treats our volunteers have prepared for the school café, we also have a small shop at the school where you can pick up Finnish chocolate and sweets/salmiakki.