Tampere's service network is being developed to meet the needs of the coming years – the plan approval process begins with the Education and Learning Committee

The plan guides the long-term development of Tampere's service network and takes a holistic view of how services meet the city's needs in different areas. It brings together the key guidelines, changes, and measures for Tampere's service networks for the years 2026–2040. The plan covers libraries, culture, sports, upper secondary education, youth services, basic education, early childhood education, and preschool education.

Deputy Mayor Anne-Mari Jussila, who is responsible for educational services, emphasizes that the service network plan creates a framework for equitable and high-quality services for children, young people, and their families in early childhood education and basic education.

– The purpose of the service network plan is to ensure that early childhood education and basic education are accessible throughout the city now and in the future. The plan takes into account factors such as population forecasts, regional changes, and the condition of facilities.

Jussila points out that the plan, which is based on the city's strategy, is a roadmap for decision-making.

The implementation of the service network plan always proceeds in stages and one decision at a time. Individual projects are prepared and brought to decision-making separately in accordance with the city's building project preparation process, and if necessary, the implementation schedule is flexible according to economic constraints.

Feedback and participation from city residents as a basis for guidelines

Extensive participation has been utilized in the preparation of the service network plan. City residents have been able to comment on the drafts through an open survey and feedback channels, and the preparation process has compiled views from all surveys concerning the school and daycare network. City staff and experts from various service areas have participated in workshops and preliminary impact assessments, which have been used to evaluate the plan's impact on the everyday lives of children, young people, and families.

– I would like to thank the people of Tampere for their active participation and feedback. They have influenced the direction of the plan, and some of the proposals have been shaped based on their input, says the Deputy Mayor.

Peltolammi's school route will change, Terälahti will remain

The development and change needs presented in the plan concern several areas of basic education and early childhood education. A change to the Peltolammi school route is proposed from 2028, when pupils in the area would transfer from 7th grade onwards to Juhannuskylä School instead of the current Hatanpää School. The aim of this solution is to even out pupil numbers and ensure that there is sufficient space at Hatanpää School for pupils from the growing Viinikanlahti area in the future.

The service network plan also proposes that Terälahti School continue to operate as a preschool and for grades 1–6 as it has done already. The development of student numbers will be monitored, but at this stage no changes to the school's structure or scope of operations are proposed.

Nature education model to be reformed

Although Terälahti School will continue to operate as it does now, the nature education activities carried out there will be moved to a more accessible location at Järvensivu School when the new school building is completed in 2029. Tampere wants to develop a new operating model for nature education in the future. The nature school will have one permanent location, but the main focus will be on work carried out in schools.

– The new model for nature education emphasizes the expansion of activities and the more diverse use of nature and excursion destinations near schools. Järvensivu School is easily accessible to many and also provides students with a variety of local nature experiences, tells Jussila.

Henneri's activities to be transferred to the Pispala daycare center

In terms of early childhood education, the service network plan proposes changes to, among other things, the Henneri play center. The Henneri premises require renovation, and there are restrictions on the use of the Pispala daycare center premises for daycare purposes.

The service network plan will be discussed by several committees during March. After the Education and Training Committee, the service network plan will be discussed by the Vitality and Competence Committee on 18 March with regard to upper secondary schools and by the Culture and Leisure Committee on 26 March with regard to culture, libraries, sports, and youth services. The plan will then be submitted to the City Board for discussion and decision-making at its meeting on 13 April 2026.