Starting early childhood education

Starting early childhood education is a new phase in the life of the whole family and a big change for the child. Starting early childhood education involves a service discussion and an introductory discussion, as well as a familiarisation period with the child and their guardians. After starting, a follow-up discussion is held.

Once you have received the decision regarding early childhood education electronically, please remember to accept the place in eDaisy.

After accepting the place, before early childhood education begins, your child’s future daycare centre will contact you. If your child has been accepted into family daycare, the family daycare supervisor will contact you. 

The guardians attend a service meeting with the daycare centre director or family daycare supervisor when the child starts early childhood education. During the meeting, they agree on matters such as the amount of early childhood education, daily care times, substitute carers and permission issues related to the child’s participation in activities during the care day. 

In early childhood education, cooperation between guardians and the group’s educator begins with a meeting that we call an introductory discussion. The purpose of the initial discussion is for guardians and early childhood education staff to get to know each other, lay the foundation for cooperation and for early childhood education staff to get to know the child better. During the initial discussion, we plan, among other things, ways to support the child in the transition from home to early childhood education.

When planning to start early childhood education, it is a good idea to allow sufficient time for this. Before the early childhood education service agreement begins, the child and their guardian(s) should attend an introductory period, the length of which should be considered according to the child’s needs. As a rule, two (2) weeks should be reserved for familiarisation at the daycare centre for children under the age of 3. In family daycare and for children over the age of 3, the familiarisation period at the daycare centre may be shorter. The child may only remain in early childhood education without a guardian once the service agreement is in force.

The child’s ECEC plan (Early Childhood Education and Care plan) discussion is held approximately two months after the child has started early childhood education, together with the group educator, guardian(s) and the child. The child participates in the planning process in accordance with their age level. The child’s ECEC plan is assessed together with the guardians every six months or more frequently if the child’s needs so require.

This content has been translated using AI