Swedish language immersion is Early Childhood Education and Care in which the child learns Swedish naturally through everyday activities. The programme is intended for Finnish-speaking children for whom Swedish is a new language. The immersion starts at age five and continues throughout basic education.
Who is the language immersion intended for?
The Swedish language immersion is intended for children,
- whose mother tongue is Finnish or who have good Finnish language skills
- for whom at least one of the home languages is Finnish.
How does the immersion operate?
Early Childhood Education and Care teachers and childminders speak Swedish to the children.
The child may use Finnish if they wish.
The goal is for the child to develop good functional Swedish language skills in a safe and encouraging environment.
Daycare centres
The Swedish language immersion is organised in the following daycare centres in Vaasa:
- Huvikumpu Daycare Centre
- Inkerinpuisto Daycare Centre
- Satamapuisto Daycare Centre
Each year a total of 63 children are admitted to the language immersion in Early Childhood Education and Care. The children are organised into three groups.
Application
In August 2026 the language immersion teaching for children born in 2021 will begin at Huvikumpu and Satamapuisto daycare centres.
Children born in 2022 can apply to the Swedish language immersion starting in August 2027. The groups will start at Huvikumpu and Inkerinpuisto. The application period is in January 2027.
Please note the following:
- You can apply for a place for the child either in the Swedish language immersion or in English-language education, not both.
- The application is made in the Edlevo app.
- Application requires strong authentication.
- Select “Language Immersion Daycare” as the operating unit in the application.
If there are more applicants than places, places will be allocated by lot. Those who do not get an immersion place will be placed on a reserve list (waiting list) in the order of the draw. If immersion places become available, they will be filled according to the waiting list. The waiting list is kept in force until 31 July of the calendar year in which the child moves to pre-primary education.
Contact information
Further information provided by:
Huvikumpu Daycare Centre – Minna Herttua‑Niemi, tel. +358 40 765 5769
Inkerinpuisto Daycare Centre – Heli Kemppi, tel. +358 40 091 4456
Satamapuisto Daycare Centre – Mia Jokipii, tel. +358 40 069 7177