The school year starts on September 1st and ends in the second week of June. There are a total of 175 study days in the academic year.

The school year consists of either academic quarters, trimesters or two academic semesters, depending on the choice of the school. School holidays are generally at the same times in all schools — an autumn break in October, a Christmas break in December and January, a winter break in February, and a spring break in April. However, some schools may set break times that differ from the general rule. You can find detailed information about breaks on the school's website or by asking your child's teacher.

According to the school curriculum, a class schedule is created for each class. The class schedule is made available on the school's website. It may change during the school year, typically at the beginning of a new quarter.

In Estonia, children attend school five days a week, with no classes on Saturdays and Sundays. Normally, classes start at 8:00 a.m., but in many schools, they may begin later. Some schools have two shifts, so the school day might start, for example, in the afternoon. The standard duration of a school lesson is 45 minutes, although some schools may use longer block schedules or other arrangements. Lessons are separated by breaks, during which students have time to play or be outdoors.

In lower grades, most lessons usually take place in the same classroom.

Typically, starting from the fifth grade, different subjects are taught in respective subject-specific classrooms — physics in the physics classroom, English in the English classroom, etc. At the end of each lesson, the child packs their belongings into a bag and goes to a new classroom for the next lesson.

Before you start getting school supplies for your child, seek advice from their class teacher. Your child will definitely need indoor shoes and a school bag for books and notebooks. Smaller school supplies like pencils, erasers, and other necessities are kept in a pencil case.

In many schools, it's mandatory for primary school students (grades 1–9) to have a student diary. The diary contains the class schedule, homework assignments, grades obtained in class, and other important information. You can buy a student diary in a store, but some schools have their own student diaries, which you can obtain from the school either for a fee or for free, depending on the school.

In primary school, textbooks and workbooks are provided by the school. In the spring, the textbooks must be returned to the school so they can be used by the next student in the following autumn.

It's worth noting that most municipalities provide support for the start of the school year. You can inquire about this support from your local municipality.

Upon being admitted to a school, the child will receive a student card. This is a document that proves a child is studying in Estonia. It gives discounts, for example, when buying public transport tickets.

The student ticket shows the school name, the child's name, personal identification number, date of birth, and the ticket's validity period. To get a ticket, your child should bring one document-sized photo (3 x 4 cm) to school.

In Estonian schools, students receive grades in all classes and subjects, and grading systems may vary from one school to another. In some schools, numerical grades are not given until the end of the 6th grade. The assessment is typically done on a scale of 1 to 5, with a grade of 5 indicating that the student has achieved a very good academic result, while a grade of 1 suggests that the student has a lot of room for improvement.

Students are informed about the opportunities for retaking exams by the subject or class teacher. There are two types of grades: ongoing grades, which are assigned for work done during the learning process, and summary grades, such as quarterly and yearly grades, which are recorded on the report card. Parents can always track their child's grades through an electronic diary or the student diary.

It typically refers to additional classes or sessions aimed at helping students catch up on their studies or improve their performance in a specific subject. When a child has been absent from school for an extended period, they have the opportunity to attend consultation classes after regular lessons.

In cases of academic difficulties (when a child has attended school but has not understood the material), the child should also participate in consultation classes. These classes are usually conducted by the same subject teacher who teaches the regular classes. Consultation classes are typically held at the end of the school day after the regular lessons, and in some schools, they may be scheduled as the first class. Each teacher usually has a specific time and day when they work with students in need of assistance.

Students can attend consultation classes if something remained unclear during a lesson, if they faced challenges with a test, or if they simply need to ask the teacher a question. Information about consultation classes can be obtained from the class teacher.

The school organises educational activities outside of school, too. Whenever students leave the school premises, they are always accompanied by teacher(s). Children are taken on field trips to places such as museums, institutions, zoos, or elsewhere. In many schools, students also attend theatrical performances.

For paid events, the teacher informs students and parents, who provide money for purchasing tickets.

During school breaks and at the end of the school year, class excursions lasting for several days are organised. Activities may include hiking or visiting sister schools. Sometimes, trips abroad are also arranged. Parents contribute money for class excursions, and participation is not mandatory.

All children are required to attend school, and they should not be absent without a valid reason. If, for any reason, a child cannot come to school, the school should be notified immediately. It is considered good practice not to plan family vacations or trips with children during school time. In exceptional cases, the school may grant permission, but direct communication with the school administration is necessary for this.

A sick child with a fever, severe cold, cough, or any contagious illness should not go to school. If a child is absent from school due to a health issue, the homeroom teacher should be informed. If the illness is severe or prolonged, be sure to consult a doctor. If a child has a chronic health condition, inform the homeroom teacher about it. If necessary, provide a doctor's note as proof.

If you have questions or concerns regarding your child's learning at school, your first point of contact should always be your child's class teacher. Typically, in each class, it is agreed whether all communication is done through an electronic learning information system, where you can send direct messages to the teacher and other parents, or you can also send an email directly to the teacher.

If your question is more general or if the class teacher hasn't responded within a reasonable time, you should contact the educational supervisor for the corresponding school level at your school. You can find the contact information on the school's website.

Additionally, each school has a parents' committee, which also includes a parent representative. You can reach out to the parent representative with your questions. For more significant issues, you should contact the school principal or the school authority, such as the local government.

Usually, at the beginning of the school year, there are parent meetings where they explain whom to contact for specific questions.

If your child is starting school in a new place and is initially dealing with a foreign language, it's crucial to support and encourage them in adjusting to the new school. Take the time to talk to your child, show interest in how they are doing at school, and help them when problems arise. Finding common enjoyable activities can be very helpful – go for walks, explore local attractions, learn Estonian together, engage in sports. Your child needs special support for adaptation.

In Estonia, there is a well-known e-counselling portal called Peaasi.ee which provides information in English on how to maintain your mental health and what to do when in need of help.