Even though some playground staff members are transferred to daycare centres due to the severe staff shortage in early childhood education, after-school activities for small schoolchildren can be secured in spring 2023. The after-school activities are organised by the city’s service providers, such as organisations, associations, parishes and private businesses. Children have been able to join groups where there have been vacancies at the turn of the year. In addition, basic education after-school activities groups will start at the following playgrounds in January–February: Filpus, Hilleri, Intia, Munkki, Mäkitorppa, Nurkka, Sanna, Santahamina, Tuorinniemi, Ulvila ja Viiri.
The number of incoming applications and the number of places is constantly monitored. If necessary, more groups will start at the closed playgrounds. The service providers will inform you of your child’s place in after-school activities as soon as a place has been confirmed.
As of 3 January, we have received a total of 418 applications for after-school activities in basic education. Of these, 247 are for first-graders. Around 300 decisions have been made for first- and second-graders. We aim to make decisions on applications received so far by the end of the second week of January, when we receive up-to-date information about the staff situation from the service providers,
In December, the City of Helsinki announced that it would have to close several playgrounds for spring 2023 to secure statutory early childhood education. The city encouraged all families left without open after-school activities to apply for a place in after-school activities that are provided in accordance with the Basic Education Act. The city has offered two kinds of activities at playgrounds: statutory after-school activities, which the city is required to provide under the Basic Education Act, and open after-school activities, an additional service not required by law.
If your first- or second-grader has participated in open after-school activities at a playground and will continue to need after-school activities in the coming spring, you can submit an application online. Use the city service map(Link leads to external service) to find after-school activities groups near your child’s school. Submit your application using the online form(Link leads to external service). (Pay no attention to the application period on the form.)
The client fee for a place in after-school activities that end at 16.00 is €100 per month, and a place in after-school activities that end at 17.00 is €120 per month. You can apply for discount on the client fee, if necessary.
Helsinki still has 25 playgrounds operating normally
The open playgrounds offer fun guided activities for babies and toddlers in the mornings and, at Playground Loru in Oodi library, throughout the day starting from 9 January 2023. The weekly programmes for playgrounds will be published in the week commencing 9 January, and you will find them on the playground website at www.hel.fi/playgrounds. The outdoor areas of playgrounds will be open to children, young people and families throughout Helsinki in the spring.
School websites also provide information about club and hobby activities
Free-of-charge leisure activities are available to pupils in grades 3–9 at all comprehensive schools in Helsinki after the school day, on school premises or in their vicinity. These activities will start again on 16 January.