A Clear Path Toward Becoming a Kipinä Preschool
- Upgrade your school’s positioning with a recognised Finnish-inspired brand
- Strengthen teaching practice with proven curriculum and training
- Introduce modern software and AI tools that support teachers and reassure parents
- Keep your team, your culture, and your day-to-day control
Kipinä Transition is a structured pathway for preschools that aspire to become a Kipinä Kozy, but are not quite ready yet.
Not every strong school starts from the same place. Transition exists for operators who share Kipinä’s values and ambition, but need time, guidance, and structured support to reach the standards required for full rebranding.
This is not a rejection.
It’s an invitation to progress.
Transition gives you clarity, direction, and support, without forcing premature change.
Assessment confirms suitability. No obligation.
Most established preschools don’t fail - they stall
The Early Childhood Education industry is changing fast. Preschools have been getting consolidated. Venture and Private Equity backed players have been buying up independent nurseries and preschools creating multi-school competitors who have an edge when it comes to costs and marketing.
At the same time, parents demand more. Competition is strong. Standards are getting higher. Differentiation is important.
For many preschool owners, the challenge is not demand or reputation. It's growing from a passion project to a professional school that can operate without the founder juggling from day to day.
Over time, even well-run schools begin to feel the strain of growth, competition, and rising expectations - from parents, staff, and regulators alike. This usually shows up quietly.
"How do we upskill and prepare our team, without disrupting our families, or daily operations?"
Designed for Schools on an Upward Trajectory
Kipinä Transition is designed for established preschools that are performing well locally, but need further development before joining the Kipinä network under the Kozy or Flagship models.
Typical Transition partners include schools that:
- Are operationally stable, but lack full academic structure
- Have strong leadership, but inconsistent classroom quality
- Aspire to international standards, but need time to align
- Want clarity on what to improve, not just that improvement is needed
Transition meets schools where they are, without lowering standards.
Progress Without Pressure
Transition is a developmental relationship, not a franchise or licence.
It allows schools to begin aligning with Kipinä’s educational philosophy and quality framework — without rebranding, without public association, and without committing to a full system before they are ready.
What Transition does
- Provides a clear quality roadmap
- Introduces structured pedagogy and teaching practices
- Builds leadership and operational readiness
- Prepares schools for Kozy or Flagship eligibility
What Transition does not
- Require rebranding or public affiliation
- Impose full system adoption
- Create parent-facing obligations
- Lock schools into a future model
This is preparation, not exposure.
Focused Development, Not Overhaul
During Transition, schools work on a defined set of improvement areas based on their assessment outcome. These typically include:
- Academic structure and curriculum coherence
- Classroom quality and teaching consistency
- Leadership systems and staff development
- Parent communication and learning visibility
- Operational readiness for future scale
The scope is deliberately focused.
Progress is measured, not cosmetic.
"Is this a meaningful solution? Will we feel the transition immediately?"
What changes - and when you feel the impact
Transition is designed to deliver early, visible improvements, while deeper educational benefits compound as practices mature.
First 30 Days
Clarity & Direction
From the outset, school leadership gains a clear picture of strengths, gaps, and priorities.
Teachers experience greater structure and guidance, and leadership benefits from a defined improvement roadmap rather than abstract goals.
1 to 3 Months
Confidence & Consistency
Teaching practices begin to stabilise. Parents notice clear communication.
Classroom routines, learning structure, and pedagogical alignment improve, leading to greater teacher confidence and more consistent learning experiences for children.
3 to 6 Months
Quality Becomes Visible
Parents see clear evidence of their child's skill acquistion, improved learning visibility, and stronger classroom environments.
Internal quality indicators show measurable progress across agreed focus areas.
6 to 12 Months
Readiness for the Next Step
Schools that progress well demonstrate the academic, operational, and leadership maturity required for Kozy or Flagship consideration.
At this stage, progression is assessed based on evidence — not intention.
Progress is measured against readiness criteria, not fixed deadlines.
What's Included? A Complete Operating Package
A structured, play-based, teacher-guided curriculum grounded in Finnish early education principles, covering all core developmental areas.
This includes:
- age-specific learning frameworks
- clear learning intentions and progression
- guidance on classroom practice and observation
- alignment across classrooms and year groups
Why this matters
It gives teachers clarity, creates consistency, and gives parents confidence in what and why children are learning.
Ready-to-use academic tools that support teachers day-to-day.
This includes:
- lesson planning structures and templates
- activity guidance and pedagogical notes
- observation and reflection tools
- academic documentation standards
Why this matters
It reduces reliance on individual improvisation and makes quality less dependent on “hero” teachers.
Access to structured teacher training aligned with Finnish pedagogy, delivered online by Kipinä with an optional onsite workshop.
This includes:
- formal training modules for educators
- certification pathways aligned to Finnish practice
- ongoing professional development opportunities
Why this matters
It raises teaching quality, improves retention, and gives your school credible academic backing.
A suite of digital tools designed specifically for early childhood settings.
This includes:
- educator tools for planning and observation
- child development tracking aligned to the curriculum
- academic and progress documentation
- tools that support clear parent communication
AI is used to assist educators and improve insight — not to replace professional judgement.
Why this matters
Your school feels modern, organised, and transparent — without adding administrative burden.
Clear quality standards and access to ongoing academic guidance from the Kipinä team.
This includes:
- defined academic expectations
- safeguarding and wellbeing principles
- structured review and feedback processes
- access to system updates and improvements
Why this matters
Quality is protected as your school grows, and leadership is supported rather than isolated.
World-Leading Preschool Technology
The Kipinä Curriculum, including weekly lesson plans, is embedded in our best-in-class proprietary apps and management software. Teachers communicate with parents in real time, sharing daily updates and media, and tracking more than 200 skills per child per year. Our custom-AI alerts teachers to children at risk of falling behind and helps identify early learning issues. But beyond this, ourAI recommends concrete steps a teacher can take - steps which are fully aligned with upcoming lesson plans. In this way, Kipinä leverages AI to help teachers - like a second pair of eyes.
What full-brand Kipinä Partners Say
Working with Kipinä has been a great pleasure. Kipinä brings the highest standards and best international practices across all areas from project management to design to teacher training and marketing.
The directors are experts and are always happy to share their knowledge. They have been beside us every step of the way and share our commitment to Indonesia and our excitement in having already opened 10 beautiful successful Kipinä campuses. Our schools are fully subscribed and our staff retention is exemplary.
Sudino Lim - CEO Kipinä Indonesia (Flagship operator)
We chose Kipinä and found strong alignment in educational approach and expectations. The preparation support, training materials, and guidance on learning environments helped us upgrade our school quickly and coherently.
Ongoing support from the Kipinä team has been practical and solutions-focused. Teaching practice has become clearer, children are engaged through play-based learning, and parents have responded positively to their children’s progress.
Delia Ionele - Managing Director, Timisoara, Romania
We partnered with Kipinä in 2019 to strengthen our existing kindergarten rather than rebuild it. The curriculum framework, teacher training through Häme University, and academic guidance helped us raise consistency and quality across classrooms.
During COVID, the structure and support in place allowed us to continue operating with confidence, including remote delivery where needed. Parent trust increased noticeably, enrolment stabilised, and demand grew.
Based on this experience, we are now preparing to open a second location.
Muzaffar Ismayilov - Managing Director, Baku, Azerbaijan
How You May Expect Your Parents to React
Based on our worldwide survey of parents conducted directly by Kipinä HQ, here are our 2025 ratings.
"How much support is provided during early adoption?"
Guided, Measured, and Practical
Transition partners receive structured guidance without the complexity of a full franchise system.
- 1A formal Transition assessment and roadmap
- 2Targeted academic and operational guidance
- 3Selected access to Kipinä tools and frameworks
- 4Regular progress reviews and feedback
- 5Clear criteria for progression to Kozy or Flagship
There is no fixed timeline. Progress is based on readiness, not speed. A school may progress to a Kozy in a muich faster time. However, it should be noted that after 1 year if a school has not progressed it must exit the Kipinä system.
Statistics
600+
Trained Teachers
4,000+
Children
28
Preschools
12
Countries
A Defined Next Step — When You’re Ready
Transition is explicitly designed as a pathway. Schools that successfully complete Transition may be invited to:
- Rebrand as Kipinä Kozy, or
- Develop a Kipinä Flagship under the full franchise model
The decision is mutual and based on evidence not aspiration alone.
Not all schools will progress. Those that do are well prepared to succeed.
Transition | Kozy | Flagship | |
|---|---|---|---|
Intended For | Schools that would not meet Kozy requirements who are exploring alignment | Established operators | New or fully redeveloped schools |
Permanence | Temporary, Time-Bound | Permanent | Permanent |
Physical redevelopment | None | None, Superficial | Usually new build or major renovation |
Academic framework | Full | Full | Full |
Teacher training | Kipinä in-house training | Kipinä + Hamk University. Mandatory and Ongoing | Kipinä + Hamk University. Mandatory and Ongoing |
Brand expression | No Public Branding. Parents informed. | Fully branded as Kipinä Kozy | Fully branded as Kipinä |
Academic Oversight level | Consultative | Defined and Ongoing | Full |
Typical scale | Single School | Single School or Small Group | Reference or Multi-site |
Final pathway selection is confirmed through assessment, based on readiness, intent, and long-term fit.
Before You Apply
Commercial expectations
What Kipinä Requires In Return
Kipinä is built on genuine educational alignment, not cosmetic rebranding.
Partners are expected to engage meaningfully with the Kipinä academic framework, participate in teacher training and development, and implement agreed safety, aesthethic and classroom elements of the system over time.
A school in Transition is obliged to convert to a Kipinä Kozy within 12 months.
Converting to a Kipinä Kozy involves a commitment to upgrading and renovating your school during the Transition period, in order to meet minimum brand requirements.
Minimum Suitability
Transition is intended for schools that are:
- already operating and licensed
- led by an established leadership team
- willing to invest in training, systems, and long-term quality
- prepared to upgrade facilities gradually over time
Start with Clarity
If your school aspires to join the Kipinä network, but you’re unsure whether Kozy or Flagship is the right next step - Transition is the right place to begin.
Assessment confirms suitability. No obligation. Assessments booked 4–6 weeks ahead
Prefer more details first?
Download the Transition Overview