Childcare and pre-school in Finland

Early childhood education refers to a systematic and goal-oriented combination of education, teaching and care for children aged 0–6, with a particular emphasis on pedagogy. Early childhood education includes daycare, family daycare and open early childhood education activities, such as clubs and playgroups. Guardians decide whether to place their children in early childhood education.

Pre-school education is part of early childhood education, which every child must attend in the year preceding the start of compulsory education. Unlike other early childhood education, pre-school is compulsory for all 6-year-olds.

This page first provides information on early childhood education and then about preschool education. Early childhood education, together with pre-school education and basic education, forms a coherent whole and provides a foundation for lifelong learning. If you are interested in basic education, read more on the page Basic education in Finland.

All children aged 0–6, including those attending pre-school, are entitled to participate in early childhood education. Parents and guardians can choose the most suitable way for their child to participate in early childhood education. 

Early childhood education is provided by both municipalities and private service providers. Early childhood education is also provided in the evenings or round the clock as needed, in the form of shift care. In early childhood education, children are entitled to receive support for their development, learning and well-being if they need it. Read more about early childhood education on the website of the Finnish National Agency for Education.

If your child does not attend municipal or private early childhood education, you may be eligible for child home care allowance. If your child attends private early childhood education, you may be eligible for private day care allowance. Read more on the page Support for childcare in Finland.

Municipal early childhood education

Municipalities provide early childhood education in daycare centres, family daycare or open early childhood education for children aged 0–6. Applications for municipal early childhood education places must be submitted four months before the start of early childhood education. Parents or guardians can get a place within two weeks if they suddenly find a job or place to study. Read more about early childhood education on the InfoFinland.fi website.

The fee charged for municipal early childhood education depends on the family's income, family size, and how many hours per week the child participates in early childhood education. Read more about the basis for calculating early childhood education fees on the website of the Ministry of Education and Culture.

Private early childhood education

Private early childhood education for children aged 0–6 can be provided in private daycare centres, family daycare or open early childhood education. However, hiring a private caregiver in your home does not constitute early childhood education under the Act on Early Childhood Education and Care. Early childhood education places are applied for directly from the early childhood education centre in question. 

Prices for private early childhood education vary. You can get private day care allowance for the fees from Kela, which means that private early childhood education is not necessarily much more expensive than municipal early childhood education. 

For more information on private early childhood education, contact your municipality of residence or your new municipality. Contact details for Finnish municipalities can be found on the website of the Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities. For more information on private day care allowance, go to Kela’s website or the page Support for childcare in Finland.

All children living in Finland must participate in pre-school education during the year preceding the start of compulsory education. Compulsory schooling starts in the year when the child turns seven and starts basic education. If the child does not participate in organised pre-school education, the guardian must ensure that the child participates in other activities that meet the objectives of pre-school education.

Municipalities are responsible for organising pre-school education and are obliged to provide pre-school education for children living in their area. Private basic education providers and state educational institutions may also provide pre-school education. Pre-school education can be provided in daycare centres, schools, or other suitable locations.

Pre-school education generally lasts 4 hours a day and the child also has the right to participate in early childhood education during the day to supplement the pre-school education. Pre-school education is free of charge, but there is a fee for supplementary early childhood education.

Pre-school education uses pedagogy appropriate to early childhood education and respects children's interests in the way the teaching is organised. Play in various forms is very much present in pre-school education activities.

Read more about pre-school education on the website of the Finnish National Agency for Education.

The language of instruction in early childhood education is Finnish, Swedish or Sámi. Early childhood education can also be provided in Romani, and for children who use sign language, early childhood education can be provided in sign language. Municipalities or private early childhood education providers may also offer bilingual early childhood education or language immersion programs. Read more on the website of the Finnish National Agency for Education.

The language of instruction in pre-school education is either Finnish or Swedish. The language of instruction can also be Sami, Romani or sign language, or any other language, as long as it does not compromise the child's ability to follow the lessons.

Municipalities with both Finnish- and Swedish-speaking residents are required by law to provide pre-primary education separately for each language group.  Some municipalities may provide pre-primary education in other languages too. You can get more information on what languages are available from your municipality of residence. You can find contact details for the municipalities in Finland on the website of the Association of Finnish Municipalities. 

You can read more about pre-primary education in Swedish on the website svenskskola.fi.

The meals provided to children participating in early childhood education are regulated by the Act on Early Childhood Education and Care and the principles of the early childhood education plan. In early childhood education, children are generally offered three meals: breakfast, lunch, and a snack. In early childhood education, meals are mainly organised in the early childhood education premises, and food education is also provided.

Pre-school education consists of four hours of teaching per day, so it usually only includes a free lunch unless the child also attends early childhood education. In pre-school education, meals can be taken in the school canteen or in the daycare centre's own dining area.

If a child has a special diet, guardians must provide the child's diet plan, a list of prohibited foods, or a doctor's certificate. If the diet is related to a health condition, a statement from a doctor, nutritionist or health care professional is required. Read more about school meals on the website of the Finnish National Agency for Education.

Children are entitled to free transport if the distance to pre-school is more than five kilometres, or if the journey is too difficult or dangerous for the child. Read more about free transport in the Finnish National Agency for Education's school transport guide.