Summer Greetings and Holiday Tips from Student Welfare Services

Summer is just around the corner! For many pupils and students, it signals the start of a well-earned holiday. An ideal holiday offers rest, relaxation, and opportunities to enjoy meaningful activities. Even during the holidays, wellbeing still depends on familiar basics: a consistent daily routine, enough sleep, balanced meals, varied physical activity, and nurturing relationships. It’s also smart to keep an eye on screen time.

You can find plenty to see and experience nearby. Municipalities in our wellbeing services county have shared their own summer activity tips; explore some of them here.

Family situations differ, so summer holidays may look quite different from one household to another. If shared time off is available, what truly matters is spending quality time together. Often, a child's happiest holiday memories revolve around moments shared with loved ones.

Many students continue their studies or take summer jobs during the break. If a full holiday isn't possible, it becomes even more important to find brief moments to rest and engage in activities that boost your mood.

Please note that student housing benefits will change in August(external link). From 1 August 2025 onwards, students can get a housing supplement for students. This means that general housing allowance will no longer be paid to students after 31 July 2025.

On the same date, school transport subsidy rules will also change(external link): Starting 1 August 2025, only students entitled to free education can be granted school transport subsidy.

Our school social workers (kuraattori), psychologists, and school/student healthcare professionals remain available during the summer break, though availability might vary due to staff holidays.  Check directly with your school's student welfare staff about how and when you can reach them. Note: Student welfare services will be closed from 30 June to 27 July 2025.

School psychologists and social workers: During the summer, these services primarily offer individual appointments. You can book an appointment with your social worker or psychologist via phone, text, or Wilma.

School nurses: Over the summer, nurses will see incoming grade 1 and grade 7 pupils, as well as students attending pre-conscription medical examinations. Before the health checks, parents of upcoming grade 1 and grade 7 pupils may complete the pre-assessment form through Lunna, the new digital service platform of the wellbeing services county. Other students are also welcome to book appointments with their school nurse for purposes such as scheduled follow-ups, mental health support, or vaccinations.

Nationwide, the second-dose coverage of the MMR vaccine (measles, mumps, rubella), typically given at age six, has declined, increasing the risk of measles outbreaks. Although complete non-vaccination remains rare in Finland, the proportion of completely unvaccinated children is growing. Our school and student healthcare services offer all vaccinations included in the National Vaccination Programme free of charge throughout the year, including summer. Finnish national vaccination programme - THL(external link)

You can contact your school's nurse by sending a non-urgent message via Lunna (strong authentication required) or by phone.

More about Student Welfare Services

Additional information about school and student health services:

• Health check for pupils in 1st grade(external link)
• Greetings from school healthcare!(external link)
• Pre-conscription health checks(external link)