KiVa School

What KiVa School does

KiVa BV, operating as KiVa School, is a private Dutch company headquartered in Groningen that delivers an evidence-based, school-wide anti-bullying and social safety program for primary schools (basisscholen) in the Netherlands and select international markets. The program was developed at the University of Turku in Finland by Professor Christina Salmivalli and introduced to the Netherlands in 2012; it consists of two core teacher manuals (Handleiding onderbouw for groups 1–4 and Handleiding bovenbouw for groups 5–8) covering 10 themes per school year, supplemented by newer Pedagogisch handboek and Lesmap bundles (170 exercises each) for groups 5–6 and 7–8. The KiVa Monitor is a validated student questionnaire approved by the Dutch Education Inspectorate (Onderwijsinspectie) that allows schools to meet the legal obligation to monitor social safety, and the program has received the highest effectiveness recognition from NJi (Nederlands Jeugdinstituut). Supplementary offerings include the Rik de Pauw early-childhood package, SterkWerk, Klasse!Vergadering, Energizers, BSO placemats for after-school care, an online KiVa Game, and visibility materials (posters, vests, flags, floor stickers, sidewalk tiles).

The business operates a multi-stream revenue model: (1) professional services revenue from STARTtraining and ongoing/refresher training delivered at €340–€595 per teacher in Zwolle and Utrecht; (2) one-time/perpetual license revenue from teaching materials, bundles, and merchandise sold exclusively to certified schools through a gated webshop (e.g., Toolkit Ouderbetrokkenheid at €49.95); and (3) recurring certification and licensing revenue providing access to the KiVa portal and KiVa Monitor. The go-to-market is consultative and sales-led, combining field sales, regional meetings across 8 Dutch regions, STARTtraining events, webinars, and free information packages, with international distribution via a separate KiVa Belgium channel (Evo vzw) and direct contact for other markets. Customer base comprises 450+ certified schools and 10,000+ trained teachers in the Netherlands, with international effectiveness studies conducted in the UK (118 schools, 2025), Italy, Chile, Estonia, and Finland. The company holds no external funding and operates as an independent private limited company (BV).

Name

KiVa School

Legal name

KiVa BV

Website

http://www.kivaschool.nl

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

KiVa School (KiVa BV) is a private Dutch company delivering the evidence-based KiVa anti-bullying and social safety program to 450+ certified primary schools in the Netherlands, combining teacher training, certified curriculum materials, and a government-approved social safety monitor originally developed at the University of Turku in Finland.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Anti-Bullying and Social Safety Education Programs

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Educational Services (61)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Curriculum, Lesson Planning & Instructional Content Platforms (EDAJAMAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Assessment, Testing & Analytics Platforms (Formative/Summative) (EDAJAMAC), K–12 Instructional Design & Curriculum Development Services (EDAGAKAA), Academic Integrity, Device Monitoring & Classroom Management Tools (EDAJAMAK)

Keywords

• Anti-bullying programs
• Social safety curricula
• Teacher professional development
• School climate improvement
• Bullying prevention training

Headquarters

HQ city

Groningen

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Training Services: KiVa provides paid STARTtraining sessions for teachers at KiVa schools. Training is offered in two-day formats (or single days) at locations in Zwolle and Utrecht. Training includes manuals and vests for participants. The training ensures proper implementation and certification of KiVa schools.
2. Educational Materials and Merchandise: KiVa operates a comprehensive webshop selling teacher manuals (onderbouw and bovenbouw), lesson packages, pedagogical handbooks, supplementary materials (katernen), classroom visibility items (posters, stickers, flags, floor stickers), parent involvement toolkits, BSO placemats, Rik de Pauw storybooks and puppets, and promotional items (pens, bags). Materials are exclusively available to certified KiVa schools.
3. School Certification and Licensing: Schools become certified KiVa schools after completing the STARTtraining and implementing the program. The certification grants access to the KiVa portal (Mijn KiVa), the monitor system, and the ability to purchase supplementary materials.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

KiVa delivers a school-wide, evidence-based anti-bullying and social safety program for primary schools in the Netherlands. The offering combines structured teacher manuals covering 10 themes per grade level, a Dutch Education Inspectorate-approved digital monitoring tool (KiVa Monitor), an online interactive game (KiVa Spel), curative intervention methodologies, and a broad catalogue of physical educational materials, classroom visibility items, and parent engagement toolkits. Schools gain access to the program via paid STARTtraining certification, after which they purchase ongoing materials through a dedicated webshop and attend regional events.

Product overview

KiVa is an evidence-based school-wide prevention program for social safety and positive group formation in Dutch elementary schools (basisscholen), developed at the University of Turku (Åbo Akademi) in Finland. The core offering consists of structured teacher manuals (Handleiding onderbouw for groups 1-4 and Handleiding bovenbouw for groups 5-8) containing 10 themes with learning objectives and exercises, complemented by newer Pedagogisch handboek and Lesmap bundles for groups 5-6 and 7-8 with 170 exercises each. The supplementary Rik de Pauw line (including storybook, hand puppet, lesson kit, and exercise katern) serves the lower grades with playful social-emotional learning. Additional products include classroom materials (Klasse!Vergadering, Energizers, supplementary katerns), visibility materials (posters, stickers, flags, vests, sidewalk tiles), BSO placemats for childcare settings, and parent engagement tools. KiVa operates through a certified school network model with trained teachers, a monitoring system (KiVa Monitor) approved by Dutch education authorities, and training services (STARTtraining, refresher, and deepening trainings). The program has expanded internationally with variants like Peacock Rik for English-language settings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Rik de Pauw: Supplementary lesson package for kindergarten groups (groups 1 and 2), focused on social skills and social-emotional development through stories and tactile items featuring the character Rik de Pauw and his friends on the farm
• SterkWerk
• Peacock Rik
• KiVa Spel

Products and services

• KiVa Teacher Manual - Lower Grades (Handleiding onderbouw, groups 1-4) Comprehensive teacher manual covering 10 KiVa themes for Dutch primary school groups 1-4 (ages 4-8), including learning objectives, exercises, group discussions, role-play, and visualization exercises. Sold exclusively to certified KiVa schools.
• KiVa Teacher Manual - Upper Grades (Handleiding bovenbouw, groups 5-8) Comprehensive teacher manual covering 10 KiVa themes for Dutch primary school groups 5-8 (ages 8-12), including multiple working methods teachers can select from. Sold exclusively to certified KiVa schools.
• KiVa Pedagogical Handbook (Pedagogisch handboek) Handbook describing KiVa's core approach with a vision elaborated in five pillars, roles of teachers and parents, and curatives approaches to bullying. Used as a reference work by KiVa schools.
• KiVa Lesson Map - Groups 5/6 (Lesmap groep 5&6) Lesson map for groups 5-6 containing 170 exercises and 120 tips for independent processing, covering positive group formation, social skills, socio-emotional development, citizenship, and anti-bullying prevention.
• KiVa Lesson Map - Groups 7/8 (Lesmap groep 7&8) Lesson map for groups 7-8 containing 170 exercises and 120 tips for independent processing, covering positive group formation, social skills, socio-emotional development, citizenship, and anti-bullying prevention.
• KiVa Monitor Validated digital student questionnaire for measuring social safety, well-being, and bullying among pupils. Approved by the Dutch Education Inspectorate, enabling schools to comply with the legal obligation to monitor social safety since 2015.
• KiVa Spel (KiVa Game) Online interactive game for primary school children to learn social skills and KiVa principles through play-based activities.
• STARTtraining Two-day foundational training service for teachers at primary schools adopting the KiVa program. Covers KiVa philosophy, lesson delivery, support group approach, and program sustainability. Successful completion certifies the school. Pricing ranges from €335 to €595 per person depending on day and material inclusions.
• Rik de Pauw Lesson Package (Lespakket Rik de Pauw) Complete early-childhood lesson package for groups 1-2 (ages 4-6), containing a storybook with 18 stories and 36 illustrations, a lesson box with 18 items, a hand puppet, an A1 poster with KiVa rules, and a katern with 120+ exercises for social-emotional learning through stories and tactile items featuring the character Rik de Pauw.
• Peacock Rik (English-language Rik de Pauw) English-language version of the Rik de Pauw lesson package for ages 4-6, including storybook with 18 stories, lesson box with 18 items, hand puppet, A1 poster, and booklet with 120+ activities for international and English-medium school settings.
• Peuterpakket Rik de Pauw (Toddler Package) Toddler package for ages 4-6, designed for preschool and childcare use, containing a hand puppet, 6 A3 story plates, 6 tactile items derived from the Rik de Pauw lesson package, a digital manual, and digital supplements.
• SterkWerk Program Supplementary KiVa program consisting of a manual, poster, and window sticker that focuses on independent meeting facilitation (Klasse!Vergadering), meaningful roles for students, and giving compliments within the classroom.
• BSO Placemats (After-School Care) Placemats with various working methods for BSO (after-school care) across three age categories (4-6, 7-9, 10-12 years), each containing 10 themes with 25 sheets, to extend KiVa principles to after-school settings.
• Toolkit Ouderbetrokkenheid (Parent Engagement Toolkit) Multomap toolkit containing working methods, tips, and ideas organized around four pillars (vision, parent group, teacher-parent bond, and information exchange), to support structured parent engagement in the KiVa school's social climate. Priced at €49.95 including VAT.
• KiVa School Visibility Materials (vests, flags, sidewalk tiles, window stickers, floor stickers, posters) Collection of branded visibility materials sold exclusively to certified KiVa schools, including playground supervisor vests (KiVa hesje), 1x2m KiVa flags, 300mm sidewalk tiles (stoeptegel), window stickers (small and large), anti-slip fire-retardant floor stickers with KiVa rules (developed with Yibbo), A1 rule posters for both lower and upper grades, and Rik de Pauw character posters.
• KiVa Curative Interventions (Support Group Approach and Restorative Approach) Curative methodology components for teachers to address bullying situations, including the Support Group Approach (steungroepaanpak) where 6-8 students help a bullied classmate feel safer through concrete agreements and follow-up evaluations, and the Restorative Approach (herstelaanpak) as a final-step intervention for persistent cases involving the KiVa team and parents.

Quantifiable outcome

• 63% reduction in students reporting being bullied after two years at KiVa schools (research 2012-2014, 99 schools, 10,000+ children)
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• University of Turku (Universiteit van Turku)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKiVa was originally developed at the University of Turku in Finland by Professor Christina Salmivalli and her team. The university maintains ongoing scientific collaboration with KiVa BV for continuous program development and research validation. This partnership provides the scientific foundation and credibility for KiVa's evidence-based approach.
• Rijksuniversiteit Groningen (Rug)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe University of Groningen conducted Dutch effectiveness research on KiVa between 2012-2014 (99 schools, 10,000+ children). Researchers Gijs Huitsing and Tessa Kaufman published extensively on KiVa implementation and bullying prevention. The collaboration continues for ongoing research including Tessa Kaufman's PhD research on chronic bullying victims using KiVa school data.
• Trimbos InstituutcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Trimbos Institute collaborated on the 'What Works Against Bullying' research project (2015-2017) alongside 5 major Dutch universities. They also partnered on the Social Cost-Benefit Analysis (MKBA) for KiVa, which demonstrated a ROI of €4.04-€6.72 per euro invested.
• Bangor University (Centre for Evidence Based Early Intervention)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBangor University in Wales conducted the largest KiVa study outside Finland (118 schools, 11,000+ respondents in England and Wales, 2025). Professor Judy Hutchings directed the research project confirming KiVa's effectiveness in reducing bullying and improving social skills in diverse socioeconomic school contexts.
• Christina SalmivallicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessor Christina Salmivalli is the founder and developer of KiVa at the University of Turku. She received an ERC Advanced Grant from the European Research Council for bullying prevention research in 2020. She continues to collaborate with KiVa BV and delivered a lecture at Rijksuniversiteit Groningen in September 2019.
• CRKBO (Centraal Register Kort Beroepsonderwijs)minorOthersKiVa is registered in the Central Register for Short Vocational Education (CRKBO), indicating that KiVa BV meets quality standards for offering vocational education and training courses in the Netherlands. This registration supports KiVa's credibility as a training provider.
• NJi (Nederlands Jeugdinstituut)coreOthersThe Netherlands Youth Institute has recognized KiVa as an effective program for bullying prevention. KiVa holds the highest possible level of effectiveness recognition from NJi (December 2022). The NJi Databank Effectieve Jeugdinterventies lists KiVa as a validated intervention.
• Onderwijsinspectie (Dutch Education Inspectorate)coreOthersThe Dutch Education Inspectorate has officially approved the KiVa Monitor as meeting legal requirements for social safety monitoring in schools. The Inspectorate is enthusiastic about KiVa's comprehensive approach and the school-averaged data KiVa submits (with school permission).
• KiVa Vlaanderen (Belgium)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKiVa has a dedicated presence in Belgium through KiVa Vlaanderen, operated by Evo vzw. Belgian schools interested in KiVa are directed to the separate Belgian website (evovzw.be/ons-aanbod/kiva). Gie Deboutte is associated with KiVa Vlaanderen.
• NPO Zapp and EOminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNPO Zapp and EO collaborated with Stichting School & Veiligheid on the national Week Against Bullying (Week Tegen Pesten) initiative. KiVa participates by providing lesson materials for this annual event, reaching a broader audience of schools and parents.
• Stichting School en VeiligheidminorGTM or Marketing PartnerKiVa collaborates with Stichting School en Veiligheid on organizing the annual Week Against Bullying, providing educational materials and participating in the national campaign to raise awareness about bullying prevention.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Committee for Children (Second Step): Second Step is one of the most widely adopted evidence-based SEL/anti-bullying curricula for K-12 schools globally. It directly competes with KiVa in the social-emotional learning and bullying prevention category for primary schools, with similar teacher-manual + classroom activity + family engagement structure.
• Olweus Bullying Prevention Program (Clemson University / Hazelden): Olweus is a school-wide anti-bullying program originating from Scandinavian research, conceptually closest to KiVa (both are full-school, evidence-based, monitoring-driven models). It targets the same primary-school buyer and competes on similar evidence and effectiveness claims.
• Kwink (Bureau Speerpunt): Kwink is a Dutch social-emotional learning method used widely in Dutch basisscholen, directly competing with KiVa in the same primary-school SEL market. Both offer lesson-based programs, teacher training, and parent engagement components aimed at Dutch schools' social safety obligations.
• Breinhelden (SLO / consortium): Breinhelden is another Dutch SEL/anti-bullying program operating in basisscholen. It is comparable to KiVa in target segment (Dutch primary schools), content type (curriculum + teacher training), and adoption motion (school-wide implementation).
• PATHS Program (Channing-Bete): PATHS is an evidence-based SEL curriculum for K-6 with strong research backing (similar evidence-led positioning to KiVa). It serves the same primary-school SEL/bullying-prevention buyer with teacher-delivered lesson materials and parent components.
• GoedGezien (CED-Groep): GoedGezien is a Dutch method for social safety and bullying prevention in primary schools, directly comparable to KiVa in target customer, content (curriculum + classroom materials), and commercial model (school-wide adoption + teacher training).

Broad incumbents

• PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports): PBIS is the dominant US school-wide framework for positive behavior support, overlapping with KiVa on social-safety and group-climate objectives in primary schools. It is a broader framework rather than a single SEL curriculum, positioning it as an incumbent alternative KiVa schools may choose instead.
• Restorative Practices (IIRP - International Institute for Restorative Practices): IIRP's Restorative Practices offers school-wide social climate frameworks including bullying response approaches (similar to KiVa's steungroepaanpak and herstelaanpak). It serves as a broader incumbent alternative for schools weighing restorative approaches vs to KiVa's mixed preventive+curative model.

Regional players

• Zwijsen (BPP / WPG): Zwijsen is a major Dutch K-12 educational publisher serving basisscholen with curriculum materials. While not a direct anti-bullying competitor, it is a comparable Dutch primary-school content/sales channel and could expand into SEL/bullying prevention as an adjacent offering.
• Malmberg (BPP / Sanoma): Malmberg is a leading Dutch K-12 publisher with curriculum, assessment, and digital learning solutions sold to basisscholen. As a Dutch primary-education content incumbent, it represents a potential broader-suite competitor or distribution partner for SEL/bullying content like KiVa's.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/kivaprogramma
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kiva-school

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about KiVa School