Early Childhood Education and Care Curriculum
The National Core Curriculum for Early Childhood Education and Care 2022 is a national directive issued by the Finnish National Agency for Education, according to which local early childhood education plans are created. The core curriculum guides the organization, implementation, and development of early childhood education and promotes the realization of high-quality and equitable early childhood education.
The early childhood education plan (vasu) of the municipality of Janakkala is based on the National Early Childhood Education Core Curriculum 2022. The local early childhood education plan describes how our municipality implements early childhood education. Our early childhood education plan is image- and story-oriented, genuinely practical, visually appealing, and easy to read, opening the core of pedagogy. The plan has been collaboratively created by children, guardians, and early childhood education staff.
In early childhood education, an individual early childhood education plan (child’s vasu) is created for each child. The child’s early childhood education plan is a story that values childhood, supports the child, and positively highlights their uniqueness. The plan includes what knowledge and skills the child already has, what the child is currently learning, and what interests them. The child is involved in the planning process. The child’s participation can be realized through pictures, videos, interviews, or questions either before or during the vasu discussion. Educators and guardians agree and record how the child’s learning and growth will be supported in early childhood education and at home. The implementation of the plan is evaluated and updated at least once a year.
In addition to the child’s early childhood education plan, a group early childhood education plan is created in daycares and family daycare. The group plan is based on the realization of the contents of national and municipal plans in practice. The group plan explains how the group takes into account children’s participation, well-being, and learning. The plan considers the strengths, interests, and needs of the group of children.