Afternoon activities in basic education
Places in afternoon activities are primarily organised for first-graders and special needs education pupils. Activities are mainly organised on school days between 12:00 and 16:00. There may be exceptions to group schedules in sparsely populated areas. There are no activities during school holidays.
During the school year 2023–2024, the Service Area for Growth and Learning will organise afternoon activities in cooperation with the Christian comprehensive school, Steiner school Virkkula, Setlementti Puijola ry, and two sports clubs (KalPa and KuPS).
The goal of afternoon activities is to support education at home and in school, the development of the child’s emotional development, and safe leisure time. During the afternoon activities the children participate in activities that are planned, guided, and supervised by instructors. Group activities include crafting, playing, doing homework, and spending time outdoors. Snack breaks are pedagogical moments.
Applications
Applications for afternoon activities in basic education are submitted electronically in Wilma or by using a paper form. Pupils in private schools apply with a paper form. The groups for school year 2024 – 2025 will be formed based on applications received during the application period 1 – 21 February 2024. The locations and service providers of the groups are confirmed after the application period. The decision on afternoon activities is made for one school year at a time.
Afternoon activities in basic education are primarily organised for first-graders and special needs education pupils. If the groups are not full, places can be offered to second-graders. If there are more applications than available places, the places will be drawn.
First-graders and special needs education pupils that applied during the application period will receive the decisions by post in March 2024. Second-graders that applied during the application period will receive the decisions by post in May 2024. More information about the group will be sent by mail by the end of June to all those, who applied between 1 February and 31 May 2024 and received a positive decision. Applications received after May will be processed in autumn 2024.
If there are free places, they will be offered
- primarily to first-graders and special needs education pupils that applied after the application period
- for second-graders in regular education that applied during the application period (1–21 February 2024) but received a negative decision
- for second-graders in regular education that applied after the application period (between 22 February and 31 May 2024, or after 31 May 2024) but received a negative decision
You can apply for a place in afternoon activities in the spring term (8 January – 1 June 2024) on the same application.
Activity fees
Participation in afternoon activities is subject to a fee. The fee includes snacks and guided activities. The fee is charged for each month the child participates in the activities. In August, the fee is half of the normal monthly fee. The fees have been valid from 1 August 2021.
The child’s participation in the activities ————— Fee per month
3 h per day or 1–15 h per week ————————— €120
4 h per day or over 15 h per week ———————— €160
For more information on activity fees, see the application instruction below (Instructions for applying for a fee reducion.pdf).
Applying for a fee reduction or exemption from the fee
The guardian may apply for a fee reduction or exemption from the fee by submitting a separate application.
The activity fee will be halved if the family has at least three children participating in afternoon activities or in day care.
An exemption from the fee will be granted if the family’s income is under the income limit for free early childhood education and care, if the family receives social assistance, or if there is a statement from the child welfare services/a social worker. There is no fee for the pupils covered by the Disability Services Act. A decision on fee reduction is made for a maximum of a school year at a time. No retroactive decisions will be made.
The gross income limits for early childhood education and care changed on 1 March 2023. The new income limits can be found in the instructions below (Instructions for applying for a fee reduction).
The application with the latest attachments are submitted in the beginning of the autumn semester to the following address: Service Area for Learning and Education, Afternoon activities in basic education, Suokatu 42, 70110 Kuopio. The application and its attachments can also be submitted electronically via secure email. Secure email can be requested from iltapaivatoiminta@kuopio.fi.
Notification of changes
A place can be terminated electronically in Wilma with the form Notification of change for afternoon activities. The period of notice is one calendar month. The same form can be used to report changes in the starting date, changes in the need for activity hours, and changes in the details of the invoice recipient. If it is not possible to submit an electronic application/notification in Wilma or to print the application, the forms are also available from the afternoon activity groups, and from the secretary or the coordinator of afternoon activities. Changes concerning pupils in private schools are notified on paper form or electronically via a secure email. Secure email can be requested from iltapaivatoiminta@kuopio.fi.
Applications and forms are returned by post to the following address: Service Area for Learning and Education, Afternoon activities in basic education, Suokatu 42, 70110 Kuopio.
Holiday care for children with intellectual disabilities
The responsibility for organising holiday care for children with intellectual disabilities has been transferred to the Wellbeing services county of North Savo.
Contact information will change 1.5.2024
We will introduce a service telephone and telephone service hours from 1 May. The telephone number for afternoon activities will be 044 718 1388. The e-mail address is iltapaivatoiminta@kuopio.fi .
Telephone service hours are Mondays from 1 pm to 3 pm and Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 9 am to 11 am.
The calls will be answered by Virve Varonen, secretary of afternoon activities, and Maria Louhimo, coordinator of afternoon activities.
Maria Louhimo
Coordinator for afternoon activities
+358 44 718 1388
Virve Varonen
Secretary for afternoon activities