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.
  • 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.

The preferences the family has expressed are taken into account when organising a place in early childhood education and care as far as possible. If a place is assigned to the family in a unit other than the ones they would have preferred, their application may be kept valid in the system.

The family will be contacted about their place at the latest one month 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  service counselling number for your area.

If you or your child do not have a Finnish personal identity code, contact the service counselling number for your area.

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 six months.

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.

ECEC place guarantee

A family may conclude an agreement on an early childhood education and care place guarantee if the child’s need for care ends because of the parent’s

• • unemployment
  • temporary dismissal
  • parental allowance period
  • child care leave.

The precondition is that the family gives up their care place for at least four months.

The ECEC guarantee agreement means that a new place is organised for the child in the same unit on the date recorded in the agreement.

Heads of day-care centre who serve as Area Managers provide more information about applying for a place in municipal early childhood education and care. Telephone calls are received on Tuesdays and Wednesdays between 9:00 and 12:00.

• • City centre – Neulamäki
    Maarit Reinikka
    044 718 3255
  • Puijonlaakso – Päiväranta – Riistavesi -Vehmersalmi – Maaninka
    Asta Sarnola, 044 718 3370
  • Inkilänmäki – Männistö – Nilsiä – Juankoski
    Jaana Saavalainen, 044 718 3488
  • Särkiniemi – Jynkkä – Karttula – Southern rural area
    Pirjo-Riitta Karhunen, 044 718 3220
  • Petonen/Puistokaupunki
    Pauliina Kokkonen, 044 718 3750
  • Saaristokaupunki
    Tiina Kerman, 044 718 3090

For information about private early childhood education and care, contact the private early childhood education and care service supervisors.

• • Marja-Liisa Bågman, 044 718 7911
  • Mari Kerman, 044 718 3591
  • Heidi Miettinen, 044 718 3550 (from 1 May 2023)