Applying for and cancelling a place in early childhood education and care

You should apply for a place in early childhood education and care four months before the date on which you wish the care to start, or at the latest 2 weeks in advance if the need for care is due to the parents’ employment, studies or training. An application for a place in early childhood education and care remains valid for six months.

• • If you wish to apply for a place for your child in a municipal day-care centre or family day-care, fill in an application for a day care place.
    Please indicate the care time your child needs (with exact time) in the additional information on the application.
  • If you wish to apply for a place for your child in a club, fill in an application for a club place.
  • When you apply for a place for your child in a private day-care centre or private family day care, first arrange the place with a private service provider and then fill in an application for a service voucher.

If you or your child do not have a Finnish personal identity code, fill the Application for early childhood education and care and enrollment in pre-primary education

When arranging an early childhood education place, the wishes recorded by the family (1–6) are taken into account, if possible, and are taken into account in the order in which they are arranged. If your child is allocated an early childhood education place elsewhere, you can submit an early childhood education transfer application, which is valid for 12 months. When there are more applicants for an early childhood education place than there are available places, the following guiding principles are followed:

• Siblings are granted a place in the same early childhood education establishment, if possible.
• Arrangements related to the child’s support are taken into account.
• The family’s transportation connections (work or study trips, transportation options) are taken into account.
• The formation of functional groups of children and the appropriate use of early childhood education places are taken into account.
• If there are more applicants than there are available places at the establishment, the places may be drawn.

If you refuse the early childhood education place that has been granted, you must submit a new application. The processing time for a new application is four (4) months.

The family will be contacted about their place at the latest two weeks before the requested start date of care.

If you need a place in early childhood education and care within two weeks of submitting your application, contact the centralised service guidance service by telephone or by e-mail.

Changing a care place

If you wish to apply for a transfer to another unit for your child, fill in an application for change of care place.

The application for a change of care place remains valid for one year.

Cancelling a care place

The parents should cancel a care place either electronically in Edlevo or in writing. The cancellation must be made well in advance and at the latest one week before the child’s last day in care.