Who is this guide for?
This guide is for you if your child needs early childhood education, a daycare place, family day care or another early childhood education service in Finland.
The guide does not describe one municipality's rules. It explains the general system: what early childhood education means, who decides on a place, how the application usually proceeds and what the family should check next.
What is early childhood education?
Early childhood education and care is planned education, teaching and care for a child before school. It is not only childcare, but part of the Finnish education system. The Finnish National Agency for Education guides the curriculum basis, and the municipality organises services locally.
The municipality decides on the place based on its services and legal duties. That is why the application is usually submitted to the child's municipality of residence or to the municipality whose guidance applies to the family's situation.
Who is responsible?
The municipality organises early childhood education and decides on the place. Kela may be involved only through specific benefits, such as private day care allowance.
What forms of child care exist?
Early childhood education can take different forms. Common options are a daycare centre, family day care and open early childhood education. The municipality may also use purchased services or service vouchers, and private providers may operate in the municipality.
Daycare centre
Group-based early childhood education in a daycare centre. This is a common option for many families.
Family day care
A smaller care group, often in the caregiver's home or another place approved by the municipality.
Open early childhood education
Clubs or other activities that are not always the same as a full-time daycare place.
The choice depends on the child's age, the family's schedule, the municipality's services and whether the child needs full-time or part-time service.
How to apply to the municipality
The application is usually submitted in the municipality's online service or on a municipal form. The application asks for the child's and guardians' details, desired start date, service need, possible daycare preferences and family contact details.
General application path
Step 1
Check your municipality's early childhood education guidance
Check your situation before the next action.
Step 2
Choose a suitable service form and desired start date
Check your situation before the next action.
Step 3
Submit the application in the municipal service
Check the details carefully before submitting.
Step 4
Follow municipal messages and answer additional questions
Follow messages and reply to requests on time.
Step 5
Receive a decision or place offer according to municipal guidance
Read the decision and check the next action.
Step 6
Confirm the place and agree on the start with the daycare or service
This is the next point in the route.
If the family is moving, the child's details or address are not yet clear, or the child has special needs, contact the municipality's early childhood education services before submitting the application.
Fees and possible reductions
The fee for municipal early childhood education is not the same for every family. It may depend on family size, income, the number of hours and the municipality's decision. Fees are regulated nationally, but the municipality issues the family's client fee decision.
This guide does not calculate the fee. Check your municipality's guidance and, if needed, OKM's general guidance on client fees. If the family's income changes, report the change according to municipal guidance.
Do not guess the fee
The daycare fee may change if income, family size or hours change. The municipality gives the actual fee decision.
Private daycare
Private daycare or a private caregiver is not the same as a municipal daycare place. In some situations, the family may receive Kela's private day care allowance, but Kela does not decide on the daycare place in the same way as the municipality.
Always check three things: whether the provider is approved, how the contract and payments work, and whether the family can apply for Kela private day care allowance.
Two separate decisions
The private provider agrees on the place and fees. Kela separately assesses possible support under Kela's own rules.
What happens after receiving a place?
When the child receives a place, the family gets guidance for the start. The daycare or other service may agree on familiarisation, start date, daily schedule, the child's details and how communication with guardians works.
Tell the service early if the child has a need related to health, language, sign language, diet, support or communication. Ask for important guidance in writing if spoken information is hard to remember or understand.
The start is not only a date
After the place, the daily practical matters must be agreed: schedule, communication, child details and possible support.
If you need a sign language interpreter
If a guardian needs a sign language interpreter for the application, familiarisation visit, start discussion or daycare meeting, arrange interpreting early. Tell the municipality or daycare what communication you need.
If the child uses sign language or needs accessible communication, tell early childhood education as early as possible. Ask for a written plan for how communication and support will be arranged.