Skip to main content

Pre-primary education

Early childhood education, pre-primary education and basic education form a whole that progresses consistently in terms of the child’s growth, development and learning, laying a foundation for lifelong learning. In pre-primary education, children learn through playing, doing and exploring together.

On this site

What is pre-primary education?

All children attend pre-primary education in the year they turn 6, which is one year before the start of comprehensive school.

Applying to pre-primary education

Pre-primary education is provided for four hours a day during school hours. When you apply for pre-primary education, you can also apply for early childhood education if your child needs daycare in addition to the pre-primary education.

Municipal daycare centres offering pre-primary education

Cancelling a pre-primary education place

Pre-primary education in different languages

In addition to Finnish and Swedish, the City of Helsinki offers many options for pre-primary education in other languages.

Development of pre-primary education

We recommend

Contact us

Welcome to pre-primary education brochure, PDF

Term dates and holidays in pre-primary education

Education Division's advisory services

Education Division's advisory services