Child in Early Childhood Education

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Day careFamilies with children

Early childhood education and care (ECEC) is part of the Finnish education system and an important stage on the child’s path of growing and learning. The mission of ECEC is to promote children’s holistic growth, development and learning in collaboration with their guardians.

Lapsia luokkahuoneessa.

All children under school-age have a subjective right to ECEC should their parents so decide. The Finnish ECEC is based on an integrated approach to care, education and teaching, the so-called “educare” model. Learning through play is essential.

ECEC in Vantaa is primarily organised in day-care centres and in family day-care. Forms of open early childhood education including clubs, open day care and residential parks for children and their families.

Read more Finnish National Agency for Education >

Day Care Place Guarantee

The city of Vantaa has a day care place guarantee that entitles the child to return to the same day care place after a temporary termination of day care.

The parental leave and paternity leave

Parental allowances have been revised, and the act applied to them, entered into force on August 1, 2022.  

The new parental leave applies to families where the child's calculated date of birth was September 4, 2022, or after, or the child was adopted after July 31, 2022. According to the law, the child’s right to early childhood education begins in the month the child is nine (9) months old. 

Paternity leave applies to families where the child was born September 3, 2022, or before. 

 More information is available on Kela’s website 

Absence practices related to the new parental leave: 

  • The right to the same early childhood education place for at max. 13-week absence due to parental leave remains until the child has their 2nd birthday.  

  • If the absence lasts more than 13 weeks, the child may be designated a place in another early childhood education unit.  

  • An absence of more than five (5) days must be notified a month before the planned absence begins. No early childhood education customer fee will be charged for the period.   

  • A recurring absence of 1-5 days must be notified a month before the planned absence begins. No early childhood education customer fee will be charged for the period.   

  • A one-off absence of at max. five (5) days does not have to be notified in advance. The early childhood education customer fee will be charged for the period.  

Informing about absences:  

  • Absences due to parental leave must be notified in writing on the”Sopimus lapsen poissaolosta perhevapaan aikana” form. The forms can also be acquired at the child’s early childhood education place. 

  • The guardian shall fill out, sign and return the form, as well as Kela’s decision on the absence, to the daycare center director of the child’s early childhood education place in accordance with the above notification periods. 

  • The days of absence for which no customer fee will be charged are marked as remuneration days on the VaSa service. 

Sopimus lapsen poissaolosta perhevapaan aikana (523117)(pdf, 99.96 KB)

Practices related to paternity leave and notification of absence:  

  • Absence during paternity leave is free of charge for the child who said paternity leave is regarding.  

  • Absence based on paternity leave must be reported to the location of the early childhood education at the latest 14 days (2 weeks) before its planned starting date.  

  • Absence can be reported with “Child’s absence during paternity leave” -form and Kela’s paternity allowance decision must be delivered as attachment. 

Ilmoitus lapsen poissaolosta isyysvapaan ajalla (523116)(pdf, 78.47 KB)

Cooperation between home and early childhood education providers

The ultimate goal of this cooperation is to build a string basis for the relationship between a child's parents and the early childhood education personnel. Early childhood education providers also arrange events that are intended for the guardians, who can network with the guardians of their child's fiends and find out more about current topics (e.g. parents' association).

Child Welfare and Health

Early childhood education's welfare work entails ensuring children's overall welfare, and exe-cuting this work is the responsibility of the whole personnel. Education partnering with the guardians is an important part of the welfare work. Activities that focus on the child's strengths and interests support the child's wellbeing. Evaluation of children's strengths and abilities promotes positive development.

Development and Learning Support in early childhood education

From a child's point of view, it is important to recognize the need for support early and provide the child with a learning environment that supports her/his development and learning, and any other needs. If the need for support is recognized early, it is easier to prevent further difficulties. The early childhood education pays special attention to early recognition of learning and developmental difficulties.



Consultant Special Teachers together with the day care personnel are responsible for the issues regarding children in need for learning support.

Curriculum for early childhood education and care

The local curriculum for early childhood education and care obligates to renew and develop the operating culture of ECEC. When the working and operating methods are evaluated it is essential to consider how they will best support children’s growth, development and learning. The starting point for decisions must comply with the goals of the local curriculum and always take into account the child’s best interests.