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Apply for daycare Daycare information for immigrant famielies in Finland
In Finland, every child has the right to early childhood education and care in daycare.
Daycare is a safe place for children. It supports a child’s growth and learning, and helps the whole family in setting into life in Finland.
When a child is in daycare, parents can go to work or study.
Daycare, preschool and school in Finland:
- Daycare is for children aged 9 months to 5 years. In daycare, children take part in early childhood education and care (ECEC).
- Children aged 6 years attend pre-primary education (preschool), often in a familiar daycare.
- Basic education (comprehensive school) starts at the age of 7
More information (Finnish National Agency for Education): Information about early childhood education for parents and guardians with an immigrant background
What is good to know about daycare or kindergarten?
At daycare, children
- make friends and enjoy playing with others
- learn how to be together in a group
- learn Finnish naturally through everyday life
- feel safe, included and part of a community.
When a child is in daycare, it helps the whole family
- everyday life becomes easier
- parents can go to work or study
- your family learns about life in Finland and public services
- your family learns the language and new things together
- your family meets other families
- your family gets advice and support foeveryday life
- your family is not alone in a new country.
Private Pilke daycare costs for example in Turku 0–335 € and in Espoo 0–385 € per month / child.
Families can choose the daycare they prefer for their child.
- There are public and private daycares.
- Pilke is a private daycare.
- The daycare cost depends on income, your family size and daily daycare time.
- With a service voucher, private daycare often costs the same as public daycare.
- We help families with the service voucher.
Learning new language is part of daily life in daycare.
You can choose daycare in Finnish, Swedish, English or bilingual (Finnish-English) for your child.
Children learn a new language naturally through play, everyday activities and interaction with others.
Finnish, English or Swedish becomes familiar in daily routines, such as meals, play, dressing and outdoor time.
Remember: Your home language is important. It supports your child’s learning.
Language skills support a child’s learning and school path.
Every day, children play, move, sing, do arts and crafts, draw, read, spend time outdoors and go on trips.
They learn important skills and how to be with other children.
In Finland, daycare includes meals: breakfast, lunch and a snack.
Daycares are usually open on weekdays from 8:00 to 17:00.
At Pilke daycare we work closely with families and communicate openly.
Parents are the most important people in a child’s life.
Daycare supports the child and the whole family.
We talk about the child’s day every day
and discuss together how to support the child.
If needed, we can arrange an interpreter to help ensure good communication.
Your home language is important – it supports your child’s learning.
A strong first language helps children learn new languages.
Children can use their own language in daycare. We believe the language of the play is universal for all children.
At home, it is important to speak your own language with your child.
You can apply to a Pilke daycare at any time.
Come and visit us. We help with the application and give you a quick answer.
Often, children can start daycare soon.
How to find a daycare centre?
Come to visit us!
You are warmly welcome to visit us and get to know a Pilke daycare. Book a visit here.
Send daycare application!
Applying is easy online. Please also send your application to the city according to the instructions of the daycare center you have chosen.
Apply for service voucher
Families receive a service voucher for daycare fees. We help with the application. Let’s talk more together when we meet at the kindergarten.
We develop lifelong learners with a heart for the world
Care and education, hand in hand
For us, quality early childhood education involves learning through play and gentle interaction.
We see and recognize each child’s unique talents and support their strengths. We are passionate about our work and build safe and inspiring learning pathways for everyone.
It is important to us that our staff have time to meet children and families in a genuine and individual way. Welcome to Pilke!
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