School year begins from early childhood education to upper secondary school – schools start on August 6th

The pre-primary education units and comprehensive schools in the City of Riihimäki will begin the school year on Wednesday, 6 August 2025 at 9.00:9.30 a.m. Students starting their first year of upper secondary school will begin their school day at XNUMX:XNUMX a.m. Information about the start of the school year for returning upper secondary students will be shared via the Wilma.

Approximately 260 first-graders will begin their school journey

This autumn in Riihimäki:

• approximately 250 children will begin pre-primary education
• 259 pupils will start the first grade
• 170 students will begin their first year of upper secondary school.

This autumn, there are a total of approximately 2800 students in in comprehensive schools and approximately 525 students in upper secondary education.

When school starts, guardians of comprehensive school pupils and families of upper secondary school students will be informed in more detail about the start of the school year.

Early childhood education

Riihimäki daycare centers, family daycare services, and pre-primary education groups have been operating normally again after the summer emergency from Friday, August 1. Children will return from their summer breaks to early childhood education gradually during August and September, depending on family schedules.

We remind guardians to enter their children's daily early childhood care hours into the DaisyFamily system.

Reform of learning support

The legislation on learning and schooling support is being reformed in pre-primary and basic education as well as upper secondary education. The legislative change and the related updated curriculum came into effect on 1 August 2025.

According to the new law, the three-tier support system (general, intensified, and special support) will be abolished. It will be replaced by group-based support models and student-specific support measures.

"The purpose of the law is to emphasize early and preventive support provided in the student's own teaching group. The goal of the change is to strengthen a school culture that promotes learning and school attendance, inclusion and community engagement," says Head of Education Outi Ervasti.

School transport

Pupils and students may travel free of charge on R-Traffic buses on their first day of school on August 6, 2025.

Students who have received a school transport benefit have been sent a decision and instructions regarding school transport. Those using public transport will be sent the code required for the mobile ticket application by email before school starts. Display tickets will be delivered to the student's local school before school starts. Guardians of students travelling by taxi will be sent a link to the Kouluun.fi service by text message and more detailed instructions on how to use the service by email.

If a student is not entitled to school transportation and wants to use public transportation, comprehensive school and upper secondary school students can purchase a semester or full-year ticket as a mobile or printed ticket:

• The activation code for mobile tickets must be collected from Tietotupa (Eteläinen Asemakatu 2). The student must be present when requesting the code or the parent must have the child's ID card with them. The student must be prepared to prove their age if they appear to be over 19 years old based on their appearance.
• A printed ticket can be purchased at the Information Centre (Tietotupa), where you can bring an order form from the school (alternatively, fill out the form at the Information Centre) and a photograph of the ticket holder.

Some preschoolers are also entitled to school transportation. This right applies to students who are not in early childhood education before and after preschool. Further details of the criteria for granting school transportation for preschoolers and an application form can be found on the city's School Transport website.

Upper secondary school students who are subject to compulsory education and whose commute to school is more than seven kilometres from their home to their school can apply for Kela's school travel allowance through OmaKela. Instructions can be found on the upper secondary school's website.

Be aware of children in traffic

Finally, we remind all road users that when school starts, it is especially important for everyone to exercise caution in traffic and to take into account children and young people starting the school year.