Child day care 

Child Day Care focuses on offering families an environment of care that supports the child’s growth and development. The parents can choose between municipal day care, private day care allowance or in case of under three year olds home care allowance. The place of day care can be a day care centre or a family day care centre. In addition to family day care in family day carer’s home, some residential areas have joint group family day care centres of several families in facilities alotted by the city.

Most Helsinkian children participate in pre-school a year before compulsory education. Pre-school supports children’s individual and communitial development, learning and healthy self-esteem. Moreover, its task is to provide a basis for a lifelong learning.

Applications for day care places are accepted throughout the year.  For part time day care places applications are made once a year, at the same time as registration for school. Application dates are given in newspapers, etc.