The Kipinä System
A single educational system. Three structured entry points.
Kipinä operates as an integrated early childhood education system designed to deliver consistent quality across diverse markets, facilities, and operator profiles.
All schools within the Kipinä system share the same academic foundations, quality standards, and governance framework.
What differs is how a school enters the system, based on its readiness, facilities, and long-term intent.
One System. Three Entry Points
Kipinä Transition
Time-bound onboarding for schools not yet ready to operate within the system.
Kipinä Transition is a structured preparation phase for schools that require operational, academic, or organisational upgrading before formal system entry.
- fixed duration (typically 6–12 months)
- no public Kipinä branding
- intensive training, diagnostics, and quality support
Transition is not a permanent model.
Schools exit into Kipinä Kozy, progress to full Kipinä, or leave the system.
Kipinä Kozy
Licensed permanent operating model for established preschools.
Kipinä Kozy is a site-specific licence for existing preschools seeking to adopt the Kipinä academic framework, systems, and quality standards without full architectural redevelopment.
Kozy is the primary entry model in most markets.
- licensed use of Kipinä IP and operating systems
- structured teacher training and certification pathways
- ongoing quality assurance and compliance oversight
- hyper-local, site-defined scope
Kipinä
Full flagship franchise model, offered selectively.
The full Kipinä model represents the complete architectural, brand, and operational expression of the system.
It is typically applied to:
- new developments, or
- major refits where full compliance is achievable from the outset
Flagship Kipinä partnerships may include territorial or multi-site rights, subject to market and partner suitability.
What Is Common Across All Models
Regardless of entry point, all Kipinä schools operate within the same core framework:
- Finland-inspired academic and pedagogical model
- structured lesson planning and curriculum delivery
- child development tracking and learning visibility
- certified teacher training and ongoing professional development
- clear quality standards and audit processes
Standards are non-negotiable.
Support intensity and obligations vary by model.
How the Kipinä System operates in practice
Beyond frameworks and principles, the Kipinä System functions as a structured operating layer. It defines how schools onboard, how educators are supported, how quality is reviewed, and how the system evolves over time.
What follows is a practical overview of how the system is implemented and sustained in real school environments.
Onboarding & Implementation
Each partnership begins with a structured onboarding phase designed to understand the school’s current context and prepare teams for system alignment.
This typically includes:
an academic and operational diagnostic
confirmation of scope and model fit
phased onboarding of the Kipinä framework
initial implementation planning with school leadership
The objective is not speed, but clarity and readiness.
Academic Delivery & Teacher Training
Teacher development sits at the centre of the Kipinä System. Training is structured, cumulative, and directly connected to classroom practice.
Depending on the model and context, this includes:
initial teacher onboarding aligned to the Kipinä approach
structured training modules delivered online and/or in person
guidance on lesson planning, observation, and classroom delivery
ongoing professional development as the system evolves
Training is not treated as a one-off event, but as a continuous process.
Quality Assurance & Academic Oversight
To protect educational quality across different schools and contexts, the Kipinä System incorporates defined review and oversight processes.
These typically involve:
agreed academic standards and expectations
periodic reviews of teaching practice and documentation
feedback and guidance from the Kipinä academic team
support in addressing gaps or inconsistencies
Oversight is designed to support improvement and consistency, while respecting local leadership and context.
Commercial Structure & Ongoing Participation
Kipinä partnerships are structured around a clear commercial framework that reflects the scope of system delivery and ongoing support.
While exact terms are confirmed following assessment, partnerships typically include:
an initial onboarding and implementation fee
ongoing system participation fees
model-specific requirements based on scale and context
Fees vary by partnership model, country, and scope of delivery, and are aligned to the level of system support provided.
How Entry Is Determined
Kipinä does not sell models.
We assess schools and partners and recommend the appropriate entry point.
Assessment considers:
- existing facilities and licences
- operational maturity and governance
- leadership commitment and staff readiness
- market context and long-term intent
Not all schools qualify.
Not all models are available in all markets.