Pilke’s Operations and Services FAQ
Pilke as a company FAQs
Although Pilke is part of the international Dibber Group, we operate in Finland entirely independently as a Finnish company.
All Pilke daycare centers comply with the Finnish Early Childhood Education Act, including its staffing ratios and employee qualification requirements.
Municipalities and Regional State Administrative Agencies supervise all daycare centers operating in their areas, both public and private.
Pilke päiväkodit is not a publicly listed company.
Pilke is owned by the Norwegian family-owned company Dibber. The parent company in Finland is officially named Dibber Early Education Finland Oy.
Pilke is part of the international Dibber Group. Dibber is a global family-owned company headquartered in Norway.
In Norway, Dibber operates under the name Læringsverkstedet, and it acquired Pilke daycare centers in Finland in the summer of 2020.
The parent company in Finland is officially named Dibber Early Education Finland Oy.
Dibber and Pilke share a common Nordic vision of early childhood education and pedagogy, as well as a shared set of values that emphasize the best interests of the child and high-quality early education.
Pilke has been supporting families with children for four decades. Today, we are the largest company serving families with children in Finland.
Pilke’s roots lie in two small local daycare centers. Since the 1990s, we have grown into a nationwide provider of services for families.
The name Pilke päiväkodit has been in use since the beginning of 2014.
You can read more about Pilke’s story here (in Finnish).
Private daycare providers are needed to help deliver services for all children and families, ensuring that these services are high-quality, diverse, and responsive to families’ changing needs.
With our private daycare centers, we at Pilke offer families more choices—such as selecting a daycare close to home or one that provides early childhood education with a specific focus.
The role of private companies as part of the public service network is growing and will continue to strengthen. As Finland’s population structure changes, the use of tax revenue must become increasingly efficient.
The CEO of Pilke is Mari Puoskari. She began in the role on June 1, 2022.
We have experienced rapid growth to become Finland’s largest provider of early childhood education and services for families with children.
Pilke’s strategy for 2024–2028 aims to usher in a new era of sustainable growth and success; strengthening profitability, improving competitiveness through unified operating models, and achieving profitable growth.
Our long-term goal is to be a forerunner in the field, both in pedagogy, as well as in customer and employee experience.
Our values reflect how we work and who we are here for.
Pilke’s values are: Warm-hearted, Generous, Playful, Driven, Committed, Professional. You can learn more about our values here.
At Pilke, we are driven by heart in everything we do. For us, it means being present, listening, and showing empathy. We believe that a heartfelt approach can make a real difference. We treat everyone and everything with kindness, and we bring this spirit into our daily work.
Being driven by heart is part of who we are and clearly visible in how we operate. In line with our values, it also includes responsibility, firmness, maturity, and handling even difficult leadership situations with respect.
As the world around us changes rapidly, we offer a safe and encouraging environment for learning the skills needed for the future. That’s why our slogan is: Pilke – Driven by Heart.
At the beginning of 2024, Pilke päiväkodit Oy became a member of Sivistystyönantajat Sivista, along with 24 other early childhood education providers. With this change in employers' association, private daycare providers aim to highlight the role of early childhood education as an essential part of the educational pathway.
Since January 1, 2024, Pilke’s CEO Mari Puoskari has also served as a member of Sivista’s Board of Directors.
The labor shortage is the most critical and difficult challenge in early childhood education.
Pilke employs over 2,600 professionals, and we are proud to be seen as an attractive employer — we receive thousands of job applications each year, which we greatly appreciate.
At the same time, solving the labor shortage requires strong, sector-wide efforts to increase the overall appeal of early childhood education. We cannot solve this challenge alone, but we are committed to doing our part.
Pilke is working to address the situation through several key actions:
- Strengthening our appeal as an employer by increasing opportunities for staff to influence their work, offering clear professional development paths within the company, and providing training and career growth opportunities.
- Developing new ways to support staff well-being. For example, in 2023, we introduced extensive occupational health care and launched our own staff well-being program.
- Investing in high-quality, consistent leadership across the company through training and development initiatives.
- Leveraging our national and international presence through our owner Dibber to offer employees opportunities to move into new roles in different cities or even in other countries.
- Exploring and testing new solutions to the labor shortage. For example, we’ve participated in projects aimed at recruiting international early childhood professionals to work in our daycare centers.
- Advocating for more training opportunities and alternative pathways into the profession, including conversion training programs to bring new talent into the field.
Pilke daycare centers follow the same staff-to-child ratios as all other early childhood education providers in Finland. Both private and municipal early childhood education are governed by the same laws, quality standards, staffing ratios, and qualification requirements.
At Pilke, the daycare manager monitors the daily ratio of children to staff and is responsible for staff scheduling based on the care time bookings made by parents.
The staff-to-child ratio is also an important quality indicator in our work. That’s why every Pilke daycare center communicates the current day’s ratio to families on a notice board. This ratio shows how many children and adults have been present in the daycare on that particular day.
Pilke has participated in projects where employees have been recruited internationally to work in our daycare centers. Our experiences have been positive and encourage us to continue exploring new solutions in the future.
We are open-minded in trying different approaches to address the labor shortage in the early childhood education sector. At Pilke, we also strive to live by the values we promote.
We value internationalism and diversity. We believe that international recruitment is one way to further strengthen and enrich Pilke’s expertise.
At Pilke, we regularly monitor and assess customer satisfaction across our daycare centers, after-school clubs, and childcare services. The quality of the customer experience is one of the key criteria guiding our operations.
Each daycare center conducts an annual customer satisfaction survey. In addition, we regularly gather feedback on the onboarding experience from new families.
Applying for Daycare at Pilke FAQs
We are often asked at what age a child can start daycare, whether a one-year-old can manage in daycare, or if a baby can adapt to daycare, and so on.
Research shows that high-quality early childhood education is beneficial for children. The youngest children in daycare are around 9 months old. Early childhood education can continue until the child starts preschool at about age 6.
Every child is unique, and family situations vary. That’s why there is no single correct answer to the question of when a child can start daycare.
However, many parents wonder when their child could start daycare at the earliest. If you’d like to discuss the right age for your child to start daycare or have any related questions, you can contact the manager of your local Pilke daycare center.
We’re happy to talk with you—parents’ questions or concerns about starting daycare are very familiar to us!
You can apply for a spot at a Pilke daycare at any time!
Typically, families start looking for and applying to daycare about 4–10 months before the planned start of early childhood education.
However, we recommend submitting your application as soon as you know you’ll need a spot. This helps ensure your child gets a place at your preferred daycare and at the desired start time.
- You can also contact the manager of your nearest or preferred Pilke daycare directly. You’ll find introductions and contact details for our daycare centers using the Pilke daycare map search.
- Submitting a daycare application is quick and easy, and it’s non-binding: Apply for early childhood education at a Pilke daycare here!
Your child can start at one of our daycare centers at the desired time, depending on availability. In the best-case scenario, if there’s space, your child could start as soon as the next weekday.
If your preferred daycare doesn’t currently have available spots, you can join the waiting list. Availability can change quickly, and when it does, we offer the newly available spots to families on the list.
Your child can start at one of our daycare centers at the desired time, depending on availability. In the best-case scenario, if there’s space, your child could start as soon as the next weekday.
- You can also contact the manager of your nearest or preferred Pilke daycare directly. You’ll find introductions and contact details for our daycare centers using the Pilke daycare map search.
- Submitting a daycare application is quick and easy, and it’s non-binding: Apply for early childhood education at a Pilke daycare here!
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If your preferred daycare doesn’t currently have available spots, you can join the waiting list. Availability can change quickly, and when it does, we offer the newly available spots to families on the list.
Yes, in Finland families can choose which daycare they primarily want to apply to for their child.
When you choose private early childhood education, there are two ways families can receive support for daycare fees. Depending on your municipality, you may receive either a service voucher or private day care allowance from Kela.
You can apply to a Pilke daycare at any time: How to apply for a daycare spot
- We recommend submitting your application as soon as you know you’ll need a spot. Sending the application is non-binding.
- If there is space available, we will confirm your child’s place for the desired start date as soon as possible.
- If your preferred daycare doesn’t currently have available spots, you can join the waiting list. Availability can change quickly, and when it does, we offer the newly available spots to families on the list.
When it’s time to apply for daycare, we recommend exploring the daycare centers in your area and getting to know their activities. You are always welcome to visit at Pilke daycare centre near you, book a visit here!
Please fill in and send us the application form here.
On each Pilke daycare centre’s own page you will find more detailed information on how to apply.
You can fill in the application form quickly and easily online in just a few minutes. No attachments are required, just fill in the application form:
- information about the child
- contact details
- details of the guardian(s)
- care needs (full-time, part-time, pre-school, other)
- preferred starting date
- additional information (allergies and other additional wishes and concerns).
You will receive an email acknowledgement once you have submitted your application. And then you will be contacted within 2 working days by the manager of the daycare centre.
Sending your application is not binding. We will conclude a daycare service contract once you decide to accept the offered place in the daycare.
Read for more:
- Before you decide to apply, you can find out more about Pilke daycares in your area and their activities by using the map search on our website.
- Contact us, ask for more, book a personal visit.
- Tips for families when applying for daycare place first time.
We always recommend that families visit daycare centers in person, if possible, before applying.
During a visit, you’ll get a glimpse into the everyday life, facilities, and activities of that specific Pilke daycare together with the daycare manager. It’s a chance for both sides to get to know each other, for you to ask questions, and for us to explain more about the application process and starting daycare.
When the first day of daycare finally arrives, your child will already be familiar with the environment—and maybe even recognize some new friends.
You’re warmly welcome to visit your nearest Pilke daycare!
Contact us to schedule a personal visit for you and your child at Pilke kindergarten.
Both municipal and private daycare centres charge customer fees, which are determined by the size of the family, the parents’ income, and the amount of time the child spends at the daycare centre each day. Information about the daycare centre’s customer fees can be found on the website for each daycare centre - find your nearest Pilke daycare centre here.
You can receive either a service voucher for ECEC or Kela’s private daycare allowance to help cover the cost of private daycare. When you apply for a place at a Pilke daycare centre, you will receive more information from the daycare centre manager about the support your municipality provides for the cost of private early childhood education and care. You will also be given information about how and when to apply for support.
Practices vary greatly between municipalities, but Pilke daycare centre managers are very familiar with them. We are happy to answer any questions you might have – just get in touch!
You can find the contact details for our daycare centres using the Pilke daycare centre search function.
Both private and municipal early childhood education are governed by the same laws, quality standards, and staff-to-child ratios, and they are also supervised by the municipality.
A private daycare can more flexibly offer families different options. Learn more about the activities and focus areas of Pilke daycare centers, as well as any special services, on each daycare’s individual webpage.
You are warmly welcome to visit your nearest Pilke daycare!
Yes, Pilke is a private daycare provider.
There are both municipal and private daycare centers in Finland, and Pilke is one of the private ones. Each family can choose which daycare they primarily want to apply to. Read more about how to apply for daycare or feel free to contact us.
Many of our daycare centers also offer early childhood education with a specific focus: we have Finnish, English and Swedish speaking kindergartens, and focus such as nature, sports, music, science, arts, and expression.
Private daycare providers are needed to help deliver services for all children and families, ensuring that these services are high-quality, diverse, and responsive to families’ changing needs.
With our private daycare centers, we at Pilke offer families more choices—such as selecting a daycare close to home or one that provides early childhood education with a specific focus.
The role of private companies as part of the public service network is growing and will continue to strengthen. As Finland’s population structure changes, the use of tax revenue must become increasingly efficient.
Yes, you can apply to both. Submitting a Pilke daycare application is non-binding—an official service agreement will be made separately later.
It’s a good idea to visit a few daycare centers before making your final decision.
You’re always welcome to visit us! Just contact us to book a visit or contact the daycare manager directly to arrange a tour for you and your child.
At Pilke, it’s important to us that every child and their family feels welcome in our daycare centers.
Pilke daycare centers follow a three-tier model of support for development and learning. This includes support materials for staff to assess and provide the necessary support in practice. At Pilke, we collaborate with both municipal and our own special education teachers, as well as those providing services through outsourcing.
Private early childhood education complements and supports municipal services. Private providers operate according to the guidelines set by the municipality. At Pilke daycare centers, we follow these municipal guidelines and work closely with local authorities to ensure that early childhood education for children in need of support is arranged in the best interest of the child.
If a child’s best interest requires placement in a small group or a special group, this is arranged through municipal early childhood education. If your family has a child with special needs and you are interested in a place at a Pilke daycare, we warmly recommend discussing this with both the manager of the Pilke daycare and your municipality’s early childhood education service guidance.
No, you don’t. Submitting a Pilke daycare application is non-binding—an official service agreement will be made separately later.
You can apply at any time, and we warmly recommend visiting your nearest Pilke daycare: get in touch with us!
Even though demand is high in many areas, it’s still possible to get a daycare spot at short notice.
On each of our daycare center’s webpages, you can see whether there are currently available spots. If your preferred daycare doesn’t have space right now, you can submit your application to the waiting list.
Availability at our daycare centers can change quickly, and when it does, we offer the newly available spots to families on the waiting list.
Feel free to ask us more:
How to apply for a daycare spot
Find contact details for our daycare centers here
Daycare Customer Fees and Support FAQs
Many parents are interested in the cost of private daycare. A private daycare is not necessarily more expensive than a municipal one. Both municipal and private daycares charge a customer fee, which depends on the size of the family, the parents’ income, and the child’s daily care hours.
Cities and municipalities have different practices for supporting families who choose private early childhood education. Most municipalities offer a service voucher to cover the cost of private daycare, or families can apply for private daycare support from Kela. You can read more about daycare customer fee support here.
You can get more detailed information by asking the manager of your nearest Pilke daycare center or by visiting the daycare’s website to check the prices and customer fees: find your nearest Pilke daycare center here.
The customer fees that a family pays for early childhood education and care is determined by the family’s income, the size of the family, and the child’s need for ECEC, i.e., the length of the time the child spends at the daycare centre each day.
Most municipalities grant a service voucher for early childhood education and care that covers the price of private daycare, or the family can apply for Kela’s private daycare allowance; read more about the different types of support for daycare fees here.
You can find out the precise amount that your family will receive as a service voucher or private daycare allowance by contacting your municipality or Kela. The managers at your local Pilke daycare centre are also happy to help, as they have expert knowledge of the situation in their area.
In practice, the family pays a deductible as a customer fee for daycare; the municipality pays for the amount awarded as a service voucher, and correspondingly Kela pays private daycare allowance directly to Pilke.
A private daycare is not necessarily more expensive than a municipal one. Both municipal and private daycare centers charge a customer fee, which depends on the size of the family, the parents’ income, and the child’s daily care hours.
Cities and municipalities have different practices for supporting families who choose private early childhood education. Most municipalities offer a service voucher to help cover the cost of private daycare, or families can apply for private day care allowance from Kela, read more about this here.
You can find the prices for each Pilke daycare on the specific daycare’s website – find your nearest Pilke daycare center here.
Both municipal and private daycare centres charge customer fees, which are determined by the size of the family, the parents’ income, and the amount of time the child spends at the daycare centre each day. Information about the daycare centre’s customer fees can be found on the website for each daycare centre - find your nearest Pilke daycare centre here.
You can receive either a service voucher for ECEC or Kela’s private daycare allowance to help cover the cost of private daycare. When you apply for a place at a Pilke daycare centre, you will receive more information from the daycare centre manager about the support your municipality provides for the cost of private early childhood education and care. You will also be given information about how and when to apply for support.
Practices vary greatly between municipalities, but Pilke daycare centre managers are very familiar with them. We are happy to answer any questions you might have – just get in touch!
You can find the contact details for our daycare centres using the Pilke daycare centre search function.
Yes, you can receive an early childhood education service voucher for Pilke daycare fees.
Depending on your municipality of residence, your family may be granted either a municipal service voucher or private care support from Kela, read more about this here.
With the help of a service voucher or private care support, the customer fee for a Pilke daycare may not be any higher than that of a municipal daycare.
Each Pilke daycare center’s website provides information about the customer fees specific to that location. Contact the daycare manager—they will be happy to advise you on how private early childhood education is supported in your municipality. You’ll also get information on how to apply for support and when to submit your application.
Yes, you can receive Kela's private day care allowance for Pilke daycare fees.
Depending on your municipality of residence, your family may be granted either a municipal service voucher or private day care allowance from Kela, read more about this here.
With the help of a service voucher or private day care allowance, the customer fee for a Pilke daycare may not be any higher than that of a municipal daycare.
Each Pilke daycare center’s website provides information about the customer fees specific to that location. Contact the daycare manager—they will be happy to advise you on how private early childhood education is supported in your municipality. You’ll also get information on how to apply for support and when to submit your application.
The monthly daycare customer fee is based on the Pilke's early childhood education service agreement, which is made separately for each child and family. As a rule, the daycare fee is paid in arrears, on the 15th of the following month. The service agreement includes more detailed terms and conditions.
Over the years, Pilke has acquired several local private daycare centers, which is why some of our daycare centers still have separate billing information.
You can find all billing details for Pilke daycare centers here (in Finnish).
Everyday life in kindergarten FAQs
In our experience, yes.
Every child is unique, and their way of adapting to daycare varies. Most children do adapt well to daycare routines, but the pace and process can differ from one child to another.
At Pilke, we support each child individually during the transition. We work closely with families to ensure that the start of daycare is as smooth and reassuring as possible. Familiarization visits, gentle starts, and open communication between parents and staff help children feel safe and gradually get used to the new environment.
We know that starting daycare is something many families think about. Based on our experience, there are many ways to make the start of daycare easier for both the child and the family. We’ve gathered helpful information and tips for families on this page about starting daycare.
Here are a few practical tips to help make your child’s transition into early childhood education as smooth and positive as possible:
- Keep early childhood education hours regular.
- Maintain a clear daily routine.
- Say goodbye briefly and clearly when dropping your child off.
- Approach daycare with a positive attitude as a family.
- Curiosity and questions are always welcome—feel free to contact us directly to your chosen daycare or send us a message!
Each daycare center’s daily routine is shaped individually based on its size and specific goals.
Pilke daycare centers are open flexibly according to families’ needs, typically between 6:00 AM and 6:00 PM.
You can find the exact opening hours of your local daycare on its individual webpage, and the daycare manager can provide more detailed information.
Meal times vary depending on the Pilke daycare center and individual groups. In general, breakfast is served at 8:00 AM, lunch around 11:15 AM, and an afternoon snack around 2:00 PM.
Breakfast is only provided for children whose care agreement includes a start time before 9:00 AM. For more specific meal schedules, please contact the manager of your local daycare center.
Many parents wonder how naptime works at daycare. At Pilke kindergartens, all children are given the opportunity to rest or nap in a quiet room designed for peaceful daytime rest.
Children’s brains develop most rapidly during early childhood, and this intense development requires sufficient rest and sleep. That’s why it’s important for children to have the chance to nap at daycare. If a child falls asleep during rest time, it means they need sleep—and we make sure they get it. It’s good to remember that every child’s need for sleep is individual.
It’s also completely normal for some children not to sleep at daycare. In that case, they simply relax for a while by listening to a story or music before returning to the day’s activities.
If you have any concerns about your child’s naps at daycare, our early childhood education professionals are happy to talk with you.
In addition to daily face-to-face interactions, Pilke daycare centers use DaisyFamily as a communication and information channel between home and daycare.
Through DaisyFamily, daycare staff share updates and news about daycare activities with families.
Families use DaisyFamily to, for example, book care hours and report absences.
We provide instructions for using DaisyFamily when your child starts daycare.
Log in to Pilke’s DaisyFamily here:
https://pilke.daisyfamily.fi/login
For questions about logging in or using DaisyFamily, contact: daisy@pilkepaivakodit.fi
At Pilke daycare centers, we follow the Finnish Early Childhood Education Act in all our operations. A maximum number of children may be present in a group at one time based on the number of educators, even if more staff members are available. In practice, this means:
- In groups for children under 3 years old: a maximum of 12 children (1 educator per 4 children)
- In groups for children over 3 years old: a maximum of 21 children (1 educator per 7 children)
At Pilke, the child-to-adult ratio is an essential indicator of the quality of our work.
That’s why every Pilke daycare center communicates the daily ratio to families on a notice board. This ratio shows how many children and adults were present in the daycare on that particular day.
Read more in Finnish: Pilke julkaisee päiväkotien aikuisten ja lasten suhdeluvun päivittäin
During holiday periods, there are fewer children in daycare, as many families are on vacation and children stay at home. For this reason, some of our daycare centers are closed while others remain open.
The open daycare centers operate as on-duty centers, providing care for all children from Pilke daycare centers in the area who need early childhood education.
These on-duty centers are staffed by Pilke’s own early childhood educators from various daycare centers in the same region.
We inform families well in advance about holiday opening hours and which Pilke daycare centers in the area will be open.
As a general rule, the yards of Pilke daycare centers are open for play in the evenings, on weekends, and during holidays—times when the yard is not in use by the daycare.
The yard areas and playgrounds are designed specifically for the play of daycare-aged children. Please follow any posted guidelines regarding the use of the yard.
It is also possible to rent daycare facilities in the evenings and on weekends.
Meals in Pilke daycare FAQs
At Pilke daycares, the menu is generally the same across Finland, with adjustments made for individual daycares and current needs. The menu follows a 4–5 week rotation.
You can find the menu here, in DaisyFamily, and it is also displayed at the daycare.
At the daycare, breakfast, lunch, and a snack are offered. At Pilke daycares, we provide children with domestic, healthy, and tasty food that is diverse and easy to eat, designed specifically with children’s tastes and textures in mind.
Each of our daycares has a daycare assistant responsible for warming the food and serving other items according to the menu.
Meal times vary depending on the Pilke daycare center and individual groups. In general, breakfast is served at 8:00 AM, lunch around 11:15 AM, and an afternoon snack around 2:00 PM.
Breakfast is only provided for children whose care agreement includes a start time before 9:00 AM. For more specific meal schedules, please contact the manager of your local daycare center.
All the activity during the day makes children hungry. Mealtimes at daycare are unhurried moments and always the responsibility of the staff. Adults sit at the table with the children, participating in the meal and engaging in shared conversation. Being present allows the adults to observe the situation and support the children in eating enough and enjoying a varied diet.
For the youngest children, an adult serves the food; older children serve themselves. When portioning, children are asked how much food is the right amount for them. Adults always guide the process and ensure that bread and drinks are also included in the meal.
If needed, staff may use “tasting cards” to encourage children who are reluctant to eat or try new foods. For example, the child and adult might agree that the child picks three tasting cards—each time the child tastes the food, they get to turn over a card and see the picture on the other side.
Mealtimes at the daycare are scheduled to provide adequate nutrition throughout the day. However, especially during longer care days, children might get hungry again in the afternoon. We recommend that parents bring a healthy snack for the journey home, especially if the next mealtime is far off or the child is prone to getting "hangry."
An adult is always present at mealtimes with sensitivity and awareness of the situation.
For younger children, food is portioned onto their plates. Mealtimes go smoothly with finger foods, and feeding is provided when needed.
Children naturally want to try things out, and young children closely observe those sitting next to them—especially older children—and often follow their example! We support learning to use a spoon and fork at each child’s own pace, offering the opportunity as soon as the child shows interest. Similarly, children transition from a baby bottle to a sippy cup and later to using a regular glass.
At daycare, milk and water are served as beverages with meals. At Pilke daycares, children are offered either fat-free milk, lactose-free fat-free milk, oat milk, or soy milk, according to the family's preferences and notification. If required by the child's diet, almond milk is also available.
Children under 12 months of age are offered infant formula based on the family's wishes. Please bring your own baby bottle to daycare if needed.
As a rule, all non-prescription milks can be provided through the daycare. If the product is available only by prescription, the family is responsible for supplying the milk to the daycare themselves.
Please ask for more information and discuss details directly with the daycare director!
Drinks are always included in meal situations; milk and water are available as meal beverages at daycare. Juice is offered only on special occasions.
Drinking enough is a safety issue, especially during hot weather. That’s why we ask families to bring a personal, named water bottle for the child to use at daycare and on outings. In general, water bottles are extremely important for children – they like to carry them around!
During outdoor activities and excursions, daycare staff always bring water jugs and cups as needed. For example, after outings, water is first offered indoors so that thirsty children don’t have to wait until the next meal.
Excursions and meals are a wonderful combination! Food rarely tastes as good as it does on a trip, and children truly enjoy picnic outings.
Families are always informed in advance when excursions take place and whether snacks need to be brought from home, along with clear instructions. Good snack options include things like sliced root vegetables and other veggies, snack bars, sandwiches, and juice or another drink in a water bottle.
No packaging or trash is left in nature — everything is brought back to the daycare and sorted properly into waste or recycling.
Sometimes daycare organizes outings where lunch or an afternoon snack is eaten outdoors, such as in the forest or other natural areas. In those cases, we bring along everything needed — like warm soup and other meal items. Occasionally, we might even bake bread rolls together with the children to take along on the trip.
Special diets and allergies are taken into account in meal preparation and mealtimes at our daycares.
At Pilke daycares, we offer lactose-free meals as well as vegetarian and vegan meals based on ethical grounds.
In line with early childhood education recommendations, it is in the child’s best interest not to exclude any food from their diet unless it is absolutely necessary. Therefore, we require a medical certificate for allergies. For other dietary choices, a notification from the family is sufficient.
New foods are never introduced at daycare. Instead, guardians test new foods at home, and inform the daycare if the child’s allergies change and they are able to eat foods that previously caused a reaction.
Pilke daycares follow internal safety guidelines related to children’s allergies and severe allergic reactions (including the use of Epipen auto-injectors). It is essential that all group staff members have up-to-date information about the children’s allergies—this information is also available to substitute staff—so they can ensure that each child receives the correct meal.
For more information or to discuss in detail, please contact your daycare manager directly!
We celebrate children’s birthdays together at daycare.
We understand that treats are a part of birthday celebrations. However, in daycare we must always take care of things like cold storage for food, equality among children, and all potential allergens, while also aiming to avoid excess sugar. That’s why homemade products, candy, or ice cream are not suitable for serving at daycare.
Good treat options include cookies, corn puffs, dried berries and fruits, or in general, dry products with clear packaging labels. Always discuss birthday celebrations and any planned treats in advance with the daycare staff.
We also celebrate calendar holidays and international theme weeks. These are an important part of early childhood education – we explore customs, cultures, and traditions, and they are often reflected in the meals as well. Examples include Shrove buns, Christmas meals, ethnic food cultures, or May Day drinks and donuts.
Pilke daycares’ food partner is Feelia Oy. Our cooperation began with Feelia piloting the service in the Southwest Finland region, and as of the beginning of 2024, all Pilke daycares across Finland are included in the deliveries. Food is delivered to daycares weekly, kept cold, and daycare staff warm it up for serving at the daycare centers.
Our partner Feelia delivers food weekly to daycares as a cold delivery. This significantly reduces our carbon footprint compared to delivering hot ready meals daily to the daycares. Because the food delivered cold to daycares can be heated only in the amounts needed for the children present, it also reduces our food waste by 20–30%. We are continuously striving to optimize the amount of food required.
Early Childhood Education FAQs
Early childhood education is a relatively new term that came into broader use in Finland after the reform of the Early Childhood Education Act in 2016. Before that, the term daycare was more commonly used.
Early childhood education refers to a planned and goal-oriented combination of care, education, and teaching, with a particular emphasis on pedagogy.
In municipalities, early childhood education is now part of the education sector, whereas daycare used to fall under social services. For very young children, care and nurturing are the most important aspects of a good day, but as the child grows, education and teaching become more central in early childhood education.
Read more: Early childhood education at Pilke daycare centres
All private daycare centers are approved and supervised by the municipality in which they operate. Private daycare providers like Pilke follow the same Early Childhood Education Act and the national early childhood education curriculum as municipal daycare centers. Municipalities also monitor our operations through inspections, guidance, and audits.
Finnish private early childhood education is among the best in the Nordic countries. Recent surveys measuring both customer satisfaction and municipalities’ views show that private services are perceived as high-quality and that cooperation with municipalities works well.
In private daycare centers, quality is built through the development of pedagogy, investment in staff well-being and competence, and by creating services that meet the needs of families—often with the help of digital tools.
All private daycare centers are approved and supervised by the municipality in which they operate. Private daycare providers like Pilke follow the same Early Childhood Education Act and the national early childhood education curriculum as municipal daycare centers. Municipalities also monitor our operations through inspections, guidance, and audits.
Finnish private early childhood education is among the best in the Nordic countries. Surveys in recent years—measuring both customer satisfaction and municipalities’ perspectives—show that private services are considered high-quality and that cooperation with municipalities works well.
In private daycare centers, quality is built by developing pedagogy, investing in staff well-being and competence, and creating services that meet the needs of families—often by making use of digital tools.
Read more: Early childhood education at Pilke daycare centres
At Pilke, it’s important to us that every child and their family feels welcome in our daycare centers.
Pilke daycare centers follow a three-tier model of support for development and learning. This includes support materials for staff to assess and provide the necessary support in practice. At Pilke, we collaborate with both municipal and our own special education teachers, as well as those providing services through outsourcing.
Private early childhood education complements and supports municipal services. Private providers operate according to the guidelines set by the municipality. At Pilke daycare centers, we follow these municipal guidelines and work closely with local authorities to ensure that early childhood education for children in need of support is arranged in the best interest of the child.
If a child’s best interest requires placement in a small group or a special group, this is arranged through municipal early childhood education. If your family has a child with special needs and you are interested in a place at a Pilke daycare, we warmly recommend discussing this with both the manager of the Pilke daycare and your municipality’s early childhood education service guidance.
In daycare, learning environments refer to the facilities, equipment, and materials available in the center, as well as the outdoor area and surrounding environment.
The learning environment is divided into three dimensions:
- Physical environment – the spaces, tools, and materials.
- Psychological environment – the atmosphere, emotional safety, and sense of belonging.
- Social environment – the interactions and relationships between children and adults.
The early childhood education plan (ECE), or vasu in Finnish, outlines the goals and actions that support a child’s development, learning, and well-being. The plan is created together with the family and the daycare staff after the child has started attending daycare.
The child’s own perspective is also taken into account in the plan. It is reviewed and updated once a year in a joint discussion between the family and the daycare.
Every single Pilke daycare center and playschool follow the same laws, quality standards, and staff-to-child ratios as all other Finnish daycare providers—both public and private.
We follow the local early childhood education plan set by each municipality. At Pilke, our approach is warm and caring, and we meet each other and the children with genuine kindness and heart.
In all Finnish early childhood education, including at Pilke, care, play, and a sense of safety are always at the heart of the daily experience. School-like skills will come naturally when the time is right—there’s no need to rush them.
In early childhood education for the youngest children, we focus on ensuring that the child feels safe and well. The adults around them are professionals who know how to engage with and listen to the child in the right way. Read more our daycare centres' way of working.
At Pilke daycare centers, we follow the Finnish Early Childhood Education Act in all our operations. A maximum number of children may be present in a group at one time based on the number of educators, even if more staff members are available. In practice, this means:
- In groups for children under 3 years old: a maximum of 12 children (1 educator per 4 children)
- In groups for children over 3 years old: a maximum of 21 children (1 educator per 7 children)
At Pilke, the child-to-adult ratio is an essential indicator of the quality of our work.
That’s why every Pilke daycare center communicates the daily ratio to families on a notice board. This ratio shows how many children and adults were present in the daycare on that particular day.
Read more in Finnish: Pilke julkaisee päiväkotien aikuisten ja lasten suhdeluvun päivittäin
Pilke daycare centers follow the same staff-to-child ratios as all other early childhood education providers in Finland. Both private and municipal early childhood education are governed by the same laws, quality standards, staffing ratios, and qualification requirements.
At Pilke, the daycare manager monitors the daily ratio of children to staff and is responsible for staff scheduling based on the care time bookings made by parents.
The staff-to-child ratio is also an important quality indicator in our work. That’s why every Pilke daycare center communicates the current day’s ratio to families on a notice board. This ratio shows how many children and adults have been present in the daycare on that particular day.
es, it does. All early childhood education providers in Finland, including Pilke, are subject to the Early Childhood Education Act. This law defines, among other things, staff-to-child ratios and qualification requirements for employees.
Both municipalities and regional state administrative agencies supervise all daycare centers operating in their area—whether public or private.
Private daycare providers are needed to help deliver services for all children and families, ensuring that these services are high-quality, diverse, and responsive to families’ changing needs.
With our private daycare centers, we at Pilke offer families more choices—such as selecting a daycare close to home or one that provides early childhood education with a specific focus.
The role of private companies as part of the public service network is growing and will continue to strengthen. As Finland’s population structure changes, the use of tax revenue must become increasingly efficient.
Yes, substitutes are used at Pilke daycare centers whenever needed.
Sometimes unexpected absences can cause disruptions in the daily routine. At Pilke, substitutes are hired to cover sudden absences, such as illness. Planned absences, like vacations and training days, are taken into account in advance through staff scheduling.
All our daycare centers across Finland follow the same consistent practices to ensure that substitutes are available and used whenever necessary.
ECEC plan discussion (vasu) FAQs
A vasu discussion (ECEC plan discussion or meeting) is a meeting between the family and the daycare staff to talk about the child’s early childhood education and care plan, known in Finland as the vasu (varhaiskasvatussuunnitelma).
The vasu, is a document that ensures the child receives planned and goal-oriented care, education, and teaching tailored to their individual needs.
The first vasu is created based on this joint discussion between the family and the daycare. After that, the plan is reviewed regularly, at least once a year.
No need to worry. Every child attending daycare in Finland has a vasu, or early childhood education and care plan. Being invited to a vasu discussion (ECEC plan meeting) does not mean that anything is wrong.
The purpose of the vasu is to help ensure that each child receives planned and goal-oriented care, education, and teaching. The child’s best interest and individual needs are always the starting point for the plan.
A vasu discussion (ECEC plan discussion or meeting) is not at all just about challenges. It’s a comprehensive conversation about the child’s strengths, interests, and needs. These are all documented in the child’s early childhood education and care plan, or vasu. If the child has any support needs, they are also included in the plan.
Together, we also review the goals that have been set, how well they have been achieved, and how effective they have been in supporting the child’s development.
The first vasu discussion (ECEC plan discussion or meeting) takes place after your child has started the daycare.
After that, the vasu is updated regularly, at least once a year. It serves as a tool for staff to plan the group’s pedagogical activities. Whenever the vasu is updated, the child’s guardians are always involved in the discussion.
At Pilke daycare centers, the vasu is discussed twice a year with the quardians: in the autumn, the plan is written, and in the spring, its implementation is reviewed.
The length of a vasu discussion (ECEC plan discussion or meeting) varies depending on the needs of the child and the family. At Pilke daycare centers, a vasu discussion typically lasts between 15 minutes and one hour. Most often, it takes about 30 minutes.
If it’s the child’s first vasu discussion, it may take a bit longer to allow enough time to go through everything thoroughly.
The autumn vasu discussion, where the plan is created, usually takes a bit longer than the spring meeting, which focuses on reviewing the plan’s implementation.
You can prepare for a vasu discussion (ECEC plan discussion or meeting) by thinking about your child’s strengths, interests, and any areas where they might need support.
The vasu discussion is always confidential, and you are welcome to ask any questions you may have about your child’s development, daily life, or early childhood education. It’s a space for open dialogue between the family and daycare staff.
A child can participate in the vasu discussion (ECEC plan discussion or meeting) if it is considered beneficial for them and the family. This is always decided individually.
At Pilke, it’s common for the child to be present at the beginning of the discussion. They are given the opportunity to share their own thoughts about their skills, interests, and needs. After that, the child usually returns to play while the adults continue the conversation.
Yes, the vasu, the early childhood education and care plan, is a mandatory part of early childhood education in Finland. Every child attending early childhood education must have their own individual vasu.
The plan ensures that each child receives the planned and goal-oriented care, education, and teaching they are entitled to.
A vasu discussion (ECEC plan discussion or meeting) is always confidential, and families are welcome to ask any questions they may have about their child’s development, situation, or early childhood education.
Here is an example of how a vasu discussion typically proceeds at a Pilke daycare center:
- Introduction round: The discussion begins with brief introductions.
- Family and child updates: The family shares how things are going, and the child’s strengths, interests, and needs are discussed.
- Setting goals: Together, we set 1–3 concrete goals for the child’s everyday life in early childhood education. We also agree on the actions and methods to support reaching those goals.
- Support and other considerations: We talk about any additional needs related to the child’s development and learning, as well as any other important matters to consider.
- Spring review: In the spring, we hold a follow-up discussion to review how the goals have been met and celebrate progress. If something still needs work, we agree on how to move forward.
After the discussion, the early childhood education teacher documents the agreed points in the child’s vasu, and the parents receive a copy to review.
Welcome to vasu discussion!