How Finnish Education Helps Kindergartens Align with India’s NEP 2020

India's National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020) highlights early childhood education as the foundation for lifelong learning. For kindergartens and preschools in India, this means a shift towards play-based, holistic, and competency-driven practices. Finnish early childhood education already reflects these values, and through the ONNI Program, schools can easily align with NEP 2020 while supporting children's well-being and future success.

What is NEP 2020?

India's National Education Policy 2020 is often described as the most significant reform in decades. It places the child – especially in the foundational stage (ages 3–8) – at the center of learning. For kindergartens and preschools, this means a new responsibility but also a great opportunity: to give every child the strongest possible start.

The Early Childhood Perspective

Olli Kamunen, CEO of ONNI Education, highlights one of the central ideas behind NEP:
"When we invest in early childhood, we are not only preparing children for school – we are preparing them for life."

Research supports this. Nearly 85% of brain development happens before the age of eight (Harvard Center on the Developing Child), which makes the early years decisive. NEP reflects this scientific understanding by shifting focus from rote learning to skills, creativity, well-being, and joy in learning.

Rachna, Country Head of ONNI Education in India, points out that many preschools are eager to follow NEP but lack clear tools:
"School leaders want to do the right thing, but they need practical solutions that teachers can use immediately in the classroom."

What Finnish Education Offers Kindergartens

Finland's education system is globally recognized for exactly the elements NEP emphasizes. Children learn through play, exploration, and discovery rather than drills and memorization. Teachers are trusted to guide learning, and the classroom environment is designed to support both well-being and holistic development.

These values are not just ideals – they are visible in daily practice. A Finnish kindergarten classroom is full of movement, collaboration, and joy. The teacher's role is not to push information but to create conditions where children's curiosity can grow.

This is why Finnish early childhood education resonates so strongly with NEP's vision. Both see the child as an active learner, and both understand that social and emotional development are as important as cognitive skills.

The ONNI Program – From Vision to Practice

While NEP sets the direction, preschools need tools to make it a reality. That is where the ONNI Program comes in. It translates Finnish best practices into practical, ready-to-use solutions for Indian kindergartens.

The ONNI Curriculum is aligned with NEP goals and comes with ready-made lesson plans that save teachers' time.
Teacher training ensures educators feel confident using play-based and holistic methods.
The ONNI Goal Survey helps kindergartens see clearly which areas of their daily practice have the most potential for improvement and track the progress over time. This progress is not only valuable for school leaders – it also demonstrates to parents that the new approach is working and truly benefits their children.
The Parent Course "How to Raise Happy Kids" strengthens the bond between school and home, ensuring children receive consistent support.

As Olli Kamunen often emphasizes:
"NEP describes the direction. Our role is to give kindergartens a simple way to walk that path – without heavy investments or complicated reforms."

Conclusion

NEP 2020 is a bold step for India, and Finnish early childhood education provides a proven model to achieve its goals. With ONNI, kindergartens don't have to start from scratch. They can rely on tested methods, research-based tools, and a partner that understands both the vision and the daily realities of preschool education.

👉 Want to explore how ONNI can support your kindergarten in implementing NEP? Get in touch with our team today.

Questions Kindergarten Leaders Often Ask about NEP

1. How can kindergarten leaders and teachers convince parents that play-based methods truly support children's learning?

Parents often want to see visible results, such as children reading and writing early. However, neuroscience shows that the foundation for academic skills is built through play. Play develops attention, memory, problem-solving, language, and self-regulation – all of which are prerequisites for later learning (UNICEF – Learning through Play). By sharing these insights and showing parents real examples from the classroom, kindergartens can demonstrate that play is not the opposite of learning but the most effective form of it. When parents see their children thriving, curious, and motivated, they become strong supporters of play-based pedagogy.

2. What practical support can help teachers meet NEP's new expectations in early childhood classrooms?

Many teachers feel pressure when policies demand new methods but don't provide concrete tools. ONNI addresses this gap. With ready-to-use lesson plans aligned with NEP and supported by Finnish pedagogy, teachers save time in preparation and gain confidence in delivery. International research also highlights that professional support and training are essential for teachers to bring play-based methods into everyday practice (OECD – Starting Strong V). Training sessions build their understanding of why these methods work, so they are not just following instructions but truly growing as professionals. This combination of practical support and professional growth makes implementing NEP both achievable and rewarding.

3. How can kindergarten leaders monitor and demonstrate progress when implementing NEP-aligned practices?

Leadership in early childhood education means guiding long-term development, not just day-to-day operations. The ONNI Goal Survey helps leaders identify strengths and areas for improvement in their kindergarten's daily practices. Over time, leaders can track concrete progress and show evidence of change – for example, improved classroom practices, stronger school–home collaboration, or more motivated teachers. This visibility not only supports internal planning but also provides powerful communication to parents, staff, and stakeholders: "Here is how we are improving, and here is the difference it makes for children." Global research confirms that engaging families by sharing progress and evidence builds trust and strengthens collaboration [UNESCO – Engaging Families in ECE]