Children and young people's active lifestyles take centre stage at joint seminars in Tuusula, Kerava and Järvenpää

The amendment to the Basic Education Act, which will come into force at the beginning of August 2026 and will be binding on all providers of basic education, will have a broad impact on the everyday structures and operating culture of schools and on the well-being of pupils. Common operating models for promoting physical activity among children and young people will be created during the spring before the start of the autumn term. 

– Schools have been promoting an active lifestyle for a long time. The previous Active School project created good operating models and methods for schools to support an active lifestyle. The upcoming legislative amendment will ensure that these proven practices become permanent operating models in schools, while also inspiring new ideas. I see this legislative reform as an important part of ensuring that the active lifestyles of children and young people in Tuusula continue to be supported during the school day, comments Acting Head of Education Jyrki Aronen. 

Blowing into the same coal in Central Uusimaa 

Education experts and school representatives from Tuusula, Kerava and Järvenpää gathered last week in Tuusula for joint training seminars. At the seminars, more than 100 people turned their attention to next autumn and prepared for the upcoming implementation by creating a shared vision. 

It is extremely valuable that municipalities come together to develop the Active School programme. Joint seminars help to create a shared understanding of the direction we want to take the physical activity culture in schools and how this can be achieved in practice in everyday school life. Regional cooperation also strengthens peer learning between schools and brings a long-term perspective to the work, says Kimmo Kiuru, Physical Education Counsellor and Physical Education Teacher, who acts as the Active School coordinator in Tuusula. 

The seminars discussed the content of the legislative amendment, its impact on everyday teaching and education, and examples of how the obligation can be implemented in a systematic manner and as part of the school’s operating culture. Presentations by external experts provided in-depth information on the current well-being and physical activity levels of children and young people.

“After these highly successful seminars, it is good to continue our joint journey towards the start of the legislative reform,” Kiuru says happily. 

Further information:
Acting Head of Education Jyrki Aronen, jyrki.aronen@tuusula.fi, +358 40 314 4273
Coordinator of the Tuusula Active School programme, Sports Counsellor and Physical Education Teacher Kimmo Kiuru, kimmo.kiuru@tuusula.fi

This content has been translated using AI