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You can apply for a place at Pilke daycare 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 possible. This helps us to ensure your child gets a place at your chosen daycare center and is able to start at a time that suits your family.

Inquiries for daycare, ask for more information, and book a visit to your nearest kindergarten – get in touch!

• You can 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. If there is availability, your child can 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.

You apply by filling in a form, please fill in and send us the application form here.

Every Pilke daycare centre has its own page. There 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! Let us know:

• information about the child
• contact details
• names and contact 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 confirmation after sending your application. We will contact you within 2 working days.

Sending your application is not binding. If you decide to accept our offer, we will provide a separate daycare service contract.

Read for more:

• Information and tips for families when applying for daycare place first time.
• 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 and ask for more about our kindergartens etc. 
• Book a personal visit to a Pilke daycare centre

Yes, in Finland families can choose which daycare center they primarily want to apply to for their child.

When you choose private early childhood education such as Pilke, you will 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!

• Search your nearest Pilke kindergarten
• Applying for daycare at Pilke
• Send your application form to Pilke daycare

Yes, you can apply to both. Submitting a Pilke daycare application is non-binding, an official service agreement will be made separately later.

Applying to Pilke daycare centre is possible anytime during the year. We will promptly confirm the chosen daycare center for your child, and the starting date that suits your family. That's easy and smooth start for kindergarten, and there's no need to wait other decisions.

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.

If there is availability, your child can start at any time you wish – even as soon as the next working day.

Inquiries for daycare, ask for more information, and book a visit to your nearest kindergarten – get in touch!

• 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!

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.

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!

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!

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.

Read more: Food and meals at Pilke daycares

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.

For specific opening hours, please contact the manager of your daycare center, please find contact information here.