Preschool education in Finnish

In Turku, your child attends one year of preschool education before their compulsory education starts. We offer pre-primary education in municipal and private day cares and schools.

Preschool education mainly follows the work and holiday schedule of comprehensive schools. Contact your child’s preschool using eVaka online services.

Preschool education is compulsory. That means that your child must take part in preschool or other comparable education, that fulfils the goals of pre-primary education, the year before they start basic education. Your child has a right to supplementary early childhood education in addition to pre-primary education.

Preschool education follows the preschool curriculum of the City of Turku.

Supplementary early childhood education in addition to pre-primary education

If needed, your child can be in early childhood education before and after preschool education. Supplementary early childhood education happens at the same place as your child’s pre-primary education, so your child does have to move from one place to another during the day. This way, supplementary education and preschool education will form an uninterrupted whole for the child.

You have to pay a fee to take part in supplementary early childhood education. If your child needs this service, you can apply for it with an early childhood education form in eVaka online services. The fee is based on your family’s income.

School transport subsidy

You can apply for a transport subsidy for transportation expenses for your child, if their nearest preschool is more than 5 kilometres away from where you live, and your child does not participate in supplementary early childhood education.

Preschool education is organised for 6-year-old children of the municipality. 7-year-olds whose start in school has been delayed can also participate in preschool education. 5-year-olds, who have an extended compulsory education decision made for them, can also take part in preschool education.

Notice of preschool place

You will receive notice about your child’s preschool place through eVaka, by mail or through Suomi.fi-service. The place is determined by address. If you do not get an decision during December, enrol your child in pre-primary education in eVaka online service during the first two weeks of January.

Enrolment in preschool education

If you accept the offered pre-primary education place, there is no need for additional enrolment. You will get a decision on the place of the preschool education during the spring.

You can apply for a secondary preschool place for justified reasons other than the preschool place assigned by the City of Turku. Registration takes place in eVaka by January 15, 2026. The application must include a justification for the change. Applications are processed on a case-by-case basis, and their implementation is not automatic.

Children in the pre-primary education age, or 6 years, participate in pre-primary education organised by the municipality. 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.

Under the Basic Education Act, participation in pre-primary education is mandatory. A child’s guardian is responsible for ensuring that the child participates in pre-primary education or activities that meet its objectives during the school year that precedes the start of compulsory education.