Private Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) Services

Apply for a place in a private day care centre directly with their own application forms.

Apply for a municipal service voucher like this:

• Apply for a day care place for your child at least four months before they begin at a day care centre. Apply directly by contacting the service provider.
• When you have been granted a place, apply for a service voucher granted by the municipality.
• You must also give an account on your income. Alternatively, you can state that you accept and pay the highest client fee.
• Enclose also a copy of your contract of service with the day care provider in the application.

Apply for private day care allowance and municipal supplement from Kela

• Note that the Kela e-service is available in Finnish and Swedish only. Please contact Kela's customer service directly.

Early childhood education and care may be given to a child who has not reached the age of compulsory education.

Day care may also be given to a child who has already reached the age of compulsory education if special circumstances so require and care cannot be otherwise arranged.

You can apply for a place for you child from a private day-care centre that organises early childhood education. Care at a private day-care centre is provided by companies, communities or NGOs, supervised by the authorities and regulated under the Early childhood education and care act.

For example, private day-care centres may offer early childhood education and care in different languages or following a specific pedagogical model, including Montessori or Steiner education. They may emphasise different hobbies or religious education.