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.

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

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Contact us
Welcome to pre-primary education brochure, PDF
Term dates and holidays in pre-primary education