Private early childhood education and care
Private day cares offer early childhood education for children under school age. If you choose private day care, you can apply for a service voucher to cover some of the cost.
In day care your child will have breakfast, lunch, and a snack. In day care we play indoors and outdoors, take part in organised activities, and share mealtimes.
For groups with children under three years old, there is one educator for every four children. For groups with children over three years old, there is one educator for every seven children.
At what age to day care?
Early childhood education is for children under school age.
How to apply for a private early childhood education place
Contact a private day care and after that apply for a service voucher in early childhood education’s online service eVaka. Submit your application at least four months before your child starts attending early childhood education.
What does private early childhood education cost?
Private day-care centres have a service voucher. You can ask the nursery directly about additional fees.
Background information about the service
You can apply for a place for you child from a private day-care centre that organises early childhood education. Care at a private day-care centre is provided by companies, communities or NGOs, supervised by the authorities and regulated under the Early childhood education and care act.
For example, private day-care centres may offer early childhood education and care in different languages or following a specific pedagogical model, including Montessori or Steiner education. They may emphasise different hobbies or religious education.