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Responsible for the service City of Helsinki, Education Division

Pre-primary education

  • Service
  • Helsinki
  • Public service

Children in Finland spend a year in pre-primary education before starting basic education in school. A day in pre-primary education is 4-hour-long, and it follows the regular school year.

In Helsinki, pre-primary education is provided free of charge in public daycare centres and in some schools.

All pre-primary education groups follow the same curriculum.

Pre-primary education is binding. T ...

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Background information

Pre-primary education is free teaching that children receive in a day-care centre or school in the year before compulsory education. Pre-primary education is also organised in private early childhood education and care.

Children in the pre-primary education age, or 6 years, participate in pre-primary education. Those 7-year-olds whose school attendance has been postponed also participate in pre-primary education. It can additionally be attended by 5-year-olds to whom a decision on extended compulsory education has been issued.

The children receive pre-primary education for four hours every morning. During this time, a lunch is served to the children.

If a pupil in pre-primary education needs support, they have the right to the assistance services and aids they need.

Under the Basic Education Act, participation in pre-primary education is mandatory. The child’s guardian is responsible for ensuring that the child participates in pre-primary education or other activities that meet the objectives for pre-primary education the year preceding the start of their compulsory education.

The service is provided by

City of Helsinki

Responsible for the service

City of Helsinki, Education Division
Text edited by: City of Helsinki, Education Division
Updated: 22/12/2024