The Education Division's advisory services provide general guidance via telephone Mon-Fri 10.00–12.00 and 13.00–15.00, and at the office on Tuesdays and Thursdays 10.00–12.00 and 13.00–15.00 at Työpajankatu 8, 00580 Helsinki.

Options for early childhood education

Daycare centre Round-the-clock care​ Group family daycare centre (family daycare)​ Three-family
daycare 
(family daycare)​

Family daycare in the care provider’s 
home​

Clubs

Private early childhood education​

(daycare centre and family daycare)

For whom? Children under school age​ Children under school age​

Children under school age​

Children under
school age​
Children under school age​ Children aged 2-5  Children under school age​
When? According to the families' needs, Monday to Friday between 6:15 and 17:30

24/7 or​ Monday to Friday between 6:15 and 22:00 (evening care units)

9 hours between 7:00 and 17:00 ​

8 to 9 hours a day and 
approximately 40 hours a week​

8 to 9 hours a day and approximately 40 hours a week 2 to 3 times a week, approximately 2.5-3 hours a day Private daycare centre or family daycare provider determines the opening hours
Where and how to apply? On Asti online service(Link leads to external service)(opens in new tab) or by using a paper form On Asti online service(Link leads to external service)(opens in new tab) or by using a paper form On Asti online service(Link leads to external service) (opens in new tab) or by using a paper form On Asti online service(Link leads to external service) (opens in new tab) or  by using a paper form On Asti online service(Link leads to external service) (opens in new tab) or by using a paper form On City of Helsinki E-services(Link leads to external service) (opens in new tab) or by using a paper form Get in touch with the private service provider directly.
Subject to a fee​ Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No

Private daycare centre or family daycare provider determines the early childhood 
education fee​

Languages​

Finnish, Swedish and North Sami​ Finnish
(Evening care also in Swedish)
Finnish and Swedish Finnish Finnish English, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Russian, Swedish and Spanish
Where? In a daycare 
centre​
In a daycare 
centre​
In a group family daycare 
centre
In turns in the families' homes​ In the home of the family 
daycare provider​
At playgrounds or daycare centres​ Private daycare centre or family daycare provider is responsible for arranging the place​