The ONNI Program — Simple, proven practices from Finnish early education for kindergartens worldwide
Running a kindergarten today means more than just caring for children — it's about offering a program that families trust and choose. The ONNI Program improves quality in ways that strengthen your reputation and make your kindergarten stand out in a competitive market. And it does this without costly reforms or complicated systems.
Many leaders face the same questions:
- How do we build parents' trust and show clear evidence that our kindergarten delivers results?
-
How do we help teachers move beyond rote learning and feel supported in creating engaging, child-centered classrooms?
How do we respond when parents expect early academics, but we want to focus on play and holistic development?
If these challenges feel familiar, you are not alone. Many kindergartens around the world face the same pressure from parents, teachers, and the market.
The ONNI Program offers a simple, research-based solution. Inspired by Finnish early childhood education, it gives you everything needed to raise quality and strengthen your reputation:
-
Educator training that builds confidence and motivation
-
A ready-to-use curriculum and lesson plans that make play-based learning practical
A parent course that creates trust and shared understanding between school and home
-
The ONNI Goal Survey to track improvement and show results clearly
And the impact is visible quickly. Within just a few months:
- Teachers feel more confident and inspired
- Parents are more engaged and supportive
- Children thrive in a safe, playful, and enriching environment
- Your kindergarten's reputation grows stronger in a competitive market
How does the ONNI Program work?
1️⃣ Assessment & Planning
We start by understanding your daycare's needs and goals to ensure the ONNI Program is tailored to your specific environment.
In the first month, you will fill out a survey and send it to ONNI, after which ONNI evaluates the survey and provides tailored development goals.
2️⃣ Teacher Training
Educators receive expert-led, research-based training on child-centered teaching, play-based learning, and effective classroom management.
The ONNI Teacher Training course is a transformative experience designed for educators and caregivers keen on influencing early childhood education positively.
ONNI Diploma
All participants who successfully complete the ONNI Teacher Training Program will be certified and awarded with a Diploma. This symbolizes the teacher's dedication to enhancing early childhood education and their commitment to fostering holistic development and well-being in young learners.
3️⃣ Parent's Web Course
3️⃣ Parent's Web Course
Practical tools and training sessions help parents support their child's development at home, strengthening the school-home connection.
How to Raise Happy Kids Course empowers parents with practical tools and knowledge to enhance their child's happiness and well-being. Engaging online modules and interactive webinars support parents in creating nurturing environments.
The inspiration for this course results from research we made in Jyväskylä University- Finland, and its theoretical basis is built on Finnish education know-how and the self-determination theory.
Want to offer only the parenting course? Or looking for tools to share it more widely?
4️⃣ Curriculum & Lesson Plans
Finnish-inspired curriculum recommendations and hands-on lesson plans make it easy to integrate new approaches into everyday learning.
The ONNI Curriculum is a research-based program for playgroups, nurseries, and kindergartens, offering lesson plans focused on holistic child development. Using a phenomena-based approach, it engages children through themes that foster curiosity and motivation.
Key areas include Math and Science, Language, Physical Education, and Art, along with essential life skills like emotional resilience, creativity, and teamwork. Modern topics such as Environmental Education and Media Literacy prepare children for the future. Inspired by Finland's world-class education system, ONNI empowers educators to create nurturing environments where children thrive.
Why Choose ONNI Education?
- Based on Finnish early education: Benefit from Finland's proven methods in early childhood education, recognized worldwide for excellence.
- Research-Based Solutions: Implement evidence-backed practices that create lasting impact.
- Stronger Partnerships: Build meaningful collaborations between educators and parents.
- Empowering Training: Equip your team with practical tools to enhance children's well-being and development.
- Quick & easy to implement: No big investments or structural changes needed
Start transforming your early learning environment today with ONNI Education!
How ONNI Transforms Early Education?
Onni Education has been an incredible partner in enhancing our curriculum. Their expertise and resources have made learning more engaging and impactful for our children and It has empowered our educators to evolve in their professional journey.
We truly value Onni Education as a trusted partner in our mission to provide world-class early education.
Sikander Singh Thakur
Founder, Director
Kinder Pandas Playschool, India
After implementing the ONNI Program, we saw a huge shift in how parents engaged with our school.
Phuong Phan
Director
Tan Thoi Dai, Nguyen Xien, Vietnam
Our teachers feel more confident, and children are more engaged in learning!
Nguyén Thi Tó Ván
Director
Tan Thoi Dai, Nguyen Xien, Vietnam
Common Questions from Kindergarten Leaders
1. How can kindergarten leaders and teachers convince parents that play-based learning truly supports children's development?
Parents often expect quick academic results – reading, writing, or memorization – already in early years. Research shows, however, that the foundation for later academic success is built through play. Play strengthens memory, attention, problem-solving, creativity, and self-regulation.
The ONNI Program provides practical ways to involve parents and build trust:
-
In our educator training, teachers learn concrete strategies to communicate the benefits of play to families.
-
Lesson plans in the ONNI Curriculum often include elements that connect learning at school with activities at home.
-
The Parent Course "How to Raise Happy Kids" gives families insights and tools to support children's growth, creating a shared understanding between school and home.
2. What practical support can help teachers meet NEP's new expectations in early childhood classrooms?
NEP 2020 asks teachers to move away from rote learning and focus on play-based, child-centered, and competency-driven methods. This can feel like a big shift without the right tools.
The ONNI Program offers:
-
A ready-made curriculum and lesson plans aligned with NEP and inspired by Finnish best practices, saving teachers' preparation time.
-
Training for educators that not only explains why play-based pedagogy works, but also shows how to apply it in everyday practice.
-
Ongoing support materials that help teachers feel confident and motivated while implementing new methods.
3. How can kindergarten leaders monitor and demonstrate progress when implementing NEP-aligned practices?
One of the biggest challenges leaders face is showing evidence that change is happening. It is not enough to tell parents and stakeholders that a new approach works – they want to see results.
The ONNI Program addresses this need through the ONNI Goal Survey, which:
-
Helps kindergartens identify areas with the most potential for improvement.
-
Tracks progress over time, making development visible to leaders and staff.
-
Provides concrete evidence to parents that play-based, holistic methods are making a difference in children's learning and well-being.
Want to see how ONNI can work for your kindergarten?
Schedule a free consultation and discover how you can improve quality, strengthen your reputation, and make parents more engaged.
ONNI Consulting
We are a team of education professionals with expertise in early childhood and primary education. At the heart of everything we do is to promote children's happiness and wellbeing worldwide. We are happy to assist you in these topics with everything you need guidance or support with.
We do, for example:
Workshops
Study visits and training in your education facility
Virtual and live tours in Finnish kindergartens and schools
Price: ~100 e/hour, depending on the service
Experience Finnish Education Firsthand
ONNI Education invites education professionals and organizations worldwide to explore the world-renowned Finnish education system through our ONNI Finland Visits.
Contact us!
Are you interested in ONNI program or consulting?
Let us know and we will contact you.
