Pre-school education

In the 2026–2027 school year, children bo in 2020 will participate in pre-school education. In addition, 7-year-olds whose school start has been postponed by one year and 5-year-olds for whom a decision on extended compulsory education has been made are also entitled to pre-primary education.

Enrolment for pre-school and supplementary early childhood education takes place at the tu of December and January. Information about the start of the enrolment period is published on the municipality’s website, in local newspapers and in DaisyFamily for families receiving early childhood education services. It is also possible to enrol in pre-school education after the enrolment period. If your child needs supplementary early childhood education in addition to pre-school education, you can apply for it when you enrol in pre-school education. Supplementary early childhood education is subject to a fee.

Registration is done via eDaisy(switch to another service). Registration for pre-school education at a private daycare centre is done using the same electronic form as for municipal pre-school education.
Please note When applying for pre-school education at a private daycare centre, you must select only pre-school education (not pre-school education and supplementary early childhood education). Supplementary early childhood education at service voucher daycare centres must be applied for separately using a service voucher application. Supplementary early childhood education in private daycare centres is agreed upon with the director of the daycare centre in question.

If you are unable to register online, please contact daisy.tuki@tuusula.fi.

Language-rich pre-school education

During pre-school education, children are introduced to different languages and cultures throughout the year. Language-enriched pre-school education refers to pre-school education in which less than 25% of activities are regularly and systematically organised in a language other than the language of instruction specified in the Basic Education Act. Language-enriched pre-school education provides natural opportunities to highlight multilingualism and cultural encounters in the everyday life and operating culture of pre-school education. The aim is for children to be both language lea ers and users.

In Tuusula, language-enriched preschool education is available at the following units:
English language-enriched preschool education at Pellava daycare centre

Pre-school education is provided in municipal early childhood education units and private daycare centres that have been granted a licence to provide pre-school education by the municipality of Tuusula. Pre-school education is provided in both daycare centres and schools. The formation of municipal groups for each unit is influenced by the number of enrolments.

With regard to private daycare centres, the municipality reimburses the costs of pre-school education in those daycare centres that have been granted a licence to provide pre-school education. Pre-school education organised in private daycare centres is based on free enrolment (the local council does not assign pre-school places), so transport benefits, for example, are not available.

The locations for pre-school education are decided for each school year before registration for pre-school education begins. The locations for the following school year are published on the website in December.

Pre-school education is provided for four hours a day, usually from 8.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. (20 hours/week) during school hours. The exception is the last day of the spring term. 

The obligation of municipalities to organise pre-primary education came into force at the beginning of August 2001. Private providers of basic education and state educational institutions may also organise pre-primary education on the basis of a separate licence. Municipalities may also purchase pre-primary education services from public or private service providers, such as private day-care centres. Municipalities are responsible for ensuring that pre-primary education provided as a purchased service is implemented in accordance with the relevant legislation and regulations.

According to the Basic Education Act (628/1998), pre-primary education is systematic and goal-oriented education and teaching provided before compulsory education, either in early childhood education or in comprehensive school. Pre-primary education comprises at least 700 hours, i.e. an average of four hours per day. A day may include a maximum of five hours of pre-primary education.

Pre-primary education is free of charge and includes travel benefits in accordance with the Basic Education Act, provided that the conditions are met. Pupils receiving pre-primary education are entitled to the same educational benefits as pupils in basic education, including student welfare services. Pupils in pre-primary education receive a free meal on each working day. The child’s guardian decides whether the child will attend pre-school education.
Pre-school education staff and guardians share responsibility for the child’s upbringing.

Children are entitled to pre-school education one year before they reach compulsory school age, i.e. in the year in which they tu six. Pre-school education must also be provided for children who start basic education a year later than the statutory age and for children covered by extended compulsory education. Extended compulsory education begins in the year in which the child tu s six. In this case, the child is entitled to pre-school education in early childhood education at the age of five.

The role of pre-school education

The main task of pre-school education is to promote favourable conditions for children’s growth, development and lea ing. It supports and monitors physical, mental, social, cognitive and emotional development and prevents any difficulties that may arise. It is important to strengthen children’s healthy self-esteem through positive lea ing experiences and to provide opportunities for diverse interaction with other people. Children’s experiences are enriched and they are helped to explore new areas of interest.

The principle of pre-school education is to inspire children to lea new things according to their own interests through play and activities, with the help of integrated teaching. Pre-school education guarantees children equal opportunities for lea ing and starting school. Early childhood education, pre-primary education and basic education form a coherent whole in terms of children’s development and lea ing. Pre-primary education monitors and supports children’s physical and socio-emotional development as well as the advancement of creative and critical thinking. Pre-primary education plays an important role in identifying and preventing lea ing difficulties. Pre-primary education creates opportunities for children to progress in their lea ing in accordance with their age and abilities.

The group teacher is responsible for implementing pre-school education together with other staff members. Due to the irregularity of care times, clear and consistent timing, daily routines and daily rhythms are emphasised in shift care pre-school education. Shift care pre-school education is comprehensive and integrative, and its planning and implementation emphasise consideration of the child’s individuality. In shift care
pre-school education, the child’s attendance may be very irregular. Pre-school education is scheduled so that it is provided during the child’s care hours during the day.

The pre-school curriculum describes the objectives, content and implementation of teaching, guides kindergarten teachers in planning their activities and serves as a tool for their work. The municipal curriculum serves as the basis for unit-specific pre-school work, assessmentand development plans, which describe the operating environments, lea ing arrangements, pedagogy, main objectives for the school year, themes, growth and lea ing support arrangements, and resourcing of the pre-school group. The plan describes forms of cooperation, student welfare, multicultural pre-school education, staff professional development, comprehensive activity assessment and areas for development.

Determining a pupil’s place of schooling (PoL 1998/628 § 6)

Education in the municipality must be organised in such a way that pupils’ jou eys are as safe and short as possible, taking into account the location of residential areas, schools and other educational facilities, as well as transport connections. When organising pre-school education, it must also be taken into account that children participating in education have the opportunity to use early childhood education services.

A pupil receiving pre-primary education may also be assigned to an early childhood education centre or other suitable pre-primary education facility that meets the relevant requirements. The local school or daycare centre is not always the closest to the pre-primary pupil’s home in geographical terms. Another pre-school facility that meets the requirements may also be designated as the child’s pre-school facility. The municipality may change the location of the teaching without changing the language of instruction for

justified reasons related to the organisation of teaching. Without the consent of the guardian, a child may not be assigned to education where fees are charged to the pupil, or to education where, on the basis of a municipal decision or a licence to provide education, a specific worldview or educational system is followed.

Applying for pre-school education (Basic Education Act, Section 23 a)

Applications for pre-school education must be submitted before the start of teaching in the manner required by the education provider. The education provider must announce in advance the locations where pre-school education will be provided, the start and end dates of teaching, and how to apply for the pre-school education it organises or procures.

You can also apply for pre-school education at a place other than the one designated by the municipality. In this case, according to the Basic Education Act, the guardian is responsible for the costs of transporting or accompanying the pupil. Equal selection criteria must be applied when admitting these pupils. However, the municipality may decide that priority for admission to pre-primary education organised or procured by the municipality shall be given to children residing in the municipality. If the child’s place of residence or the guardian’s work or study situation changes, or for other similar special reasons, it is possible to apply for pre-school education at a later date specified by the education provider.

Principles for organising pre-school education

According to the Basic Education Act, teaching is organised according to the age and abilities of the pupils and in such a way that it promotes their healthy growth and development.

The Ministry of Education has issued a recommendation on the size of pre-school groups. According to this, a pre-school group taught by one teacher may have a maximum of 13 children, or 20 children if there is another trained adult in the group. When determining pre-school places, the municipality must act in a fair, equitable and consistent manner towards its residents. In Tuusula, pre-school places are allocated to pre-school pupils in such a way that all children living in the municipality who are entitled to pre-school education are taken into account, as well as any health-related or other special reasons they may have.

When allocating pre-school places, the child’s need for supplementary early childhood education is taken into account, as well as the wishes of the guardians, where possible. The municipality of Tuusula gives priority to children living in the municipality when organising pre-school education.

If a family with a child of pre-school age moves during the pre-school year, an effort will be made to allocate the child a place in a nearby school or daycare centre. However, guardians have the right to apply for the child to continue pre-school education at their old pre-school, in which case the guardian is responsible for any transport costs. Pre-school education is provided in Tuusula municipality in units operating in connection with schools, municipal daycare centres, outsourced daycare centres and private daycare centres.
Each unit providing pre-school education draws up a work, assessment and development plan as a basis for its activities. Pre-school education is provided for approximately 750 hours per year. Teaching mainly follows the school’s working hours and holiday periods.

The size of pre-school groups varies from school year to school year depending on the number of children. In municipal daycare centres and pre-school groups operating in schools, the group size must be at least 10 children or it must form a regionally, functionally and economically sensible entity. The municipality of Tuusula approves private daycare centres as providers of pre-school education if the unit has at least five children of pre-school age. If a family chooses a unit that does not have a pre-school group as the daycare location for a child of pre-school age, the child’s early childhood education fee will be determined in accordance with the normal early childhood education fee practice.

School transport in pre-school education

The municipality of Tuusula organises free transport for pre-school and primary school pupils or assists with transporting or accompanying pupils to school in certain cases.

You can register for pre-school and supplementary early childhood education at the following municipal offices:

• Kolsan Day Care Centre 
• Lahela Daycare Centre, nature and physical education preschool 
• Lepola Daycare Centre 
• Maininki Day Care Centre (Note: Etelä-Tuusula shift care unit) 
• Martta Wendelin Daycare Centre 
• Notkopuisto Daycare Centre (Note: Pohjois-Tuusula shift care unit) 
• Pellava Daycare Centre: Groups operating at
  Riihikallio School One English-language-enriched pre-school group 
• Pertun Daycare Centre 
• Roinila Daycare Centre 
• Rykmentinpuisto Daycare Centre: Groups operating at Rykmentinpuisto School 
• Torppari Daycare Centre: Groups operating at Kellokoski School 
• Tuusulanjärvi Daycare Centre/Tusbyträsk daghem, Finnish and Swedish-language pre-school education 
• Vaunukankaan Daycare Centre 
• Vaunukankaan Daycare Centre: Group operating at Paijala School

The number of registrations affects the formation of unit-specific municipal groups. 

You can register for pre-school and supplementary early childhood education at the following private institutions:

• Lahelanniityn Daycare Centre 
• Norlandia Little Bear 
• Norlandia Sympaatti 
• Pilke sports daycare centre Huiske 
• Venlantupa Daycare Centre
• Tuusula Montessori Play School Pikkulukkari 

If at least five children of pre-school age enrol in a private service provider’s unit and the other conditions are met, pre-school education can begin in a private daycare centre. 

New units offering pre-school education:

• Rykmentinpuisto Daycare Centre

Pre-school education and supplementary early childhood education are provided in the following municipal units:

• Kolsan Day Care Centre
• Lahela Daycare Centre, nature and physical education preschool
• Lepola Daycare Centre
• Maininki Day Care Centre (Note: Etelä-Tuusula shift care unit)
• Martta Wendelin Daycare Centre: Groups operating at Mikkola School
• Notkopuisto Daycare Centre (Note: Pohjois-Tuusula shift care unit)
• Paijala preschool group (Vaunukangas daycare centre)
• Pellava Daycare Centre: Groups operating at
  Riihikallio School One English-language-enriched pre-school group
• Peltokaaren Day Care Centre
• Pertun Daycare Centre: Groups operating at Pertun School
• Roinila Daycare Centre, primarily for evening care needs
• Groups operating at Rykmentinpuisto Daycare Centre/Rykmentinpuisto School
• Torppari Daycare Centre: Groups operating at Kellokoski School
• Tuusulanjärvi Daycare Centre/Tusbyträsk daghem, Finnish and Swedish-language preschool education and Swedish-language-enriched preschool education
• Vaunukankaan Daycare Centre

*The number of registrations affects the formation of unit-specific municipal groups.

Pre-school and/or early childhood education is provided at the following private institutions:

• Lahelanniityn Daycare Centre
• Pilke sports daycare centre Huiske
• Venlantupa Daycare Centre
• Steiner Kindergarten Pohjantähti
• Tuusula Montessori Play School Pikkulukkari

If a private service provider has at least five pre-school age children enrolled, pre-school education can begin at the private daycare centre.

You can find the current working hours and holidays for pre-school education on the basic education pages.

Children participate in pre-school education in the year they tu 6. In addition, 7-year-olds whose school start has been postponed by one year and 5-year-olds who have been granted extended compulsory education are also entitled to pre-school education. Pre-school education is free of charge.

Pre-school education is compulsory, and guardians must ensure that their children participate in pre-school education or other activities that achieve the objectives of pre-school education. The law does not stipulate that children are obliged to participate in pre-school education organised in accordance with the Basic Education Act. Guardians may also decide on activities that achieve the objectives of pre-primary education to be carried out at home or on the implementation of pre-primary education by an education provider other than those referred to in the Basic Education Act.

Absences in pre-school education

Pre-school education follows the school term and holiday schedule. Guardians are responsible for ensuring that their children attend pre-school education regularly. Absences of more than two weeks must be requested from the daycare centre manager using the form provided. The form must be submitted to the child’s pre-school group.

The planning of pre-school education and lea ing support is carried out in close cooperation with parents, special needs teachers and student welfare staff. Part-time special needs education in pre-school is provided through cooperation between pre-school teachers and special needs teachers with a broad range of expertise in early childhood education.  

The reform of lea ing support in pre-primary education will come into effect on 1 August 2025. At that time, there will be a transition from a three-tier support model (general, intensified and special support) to a group- and child-specific support model.

Read more about the progress of the reform nationwide on the National Agency for Education website.

For more information about support for supplementary early childhood education, please visit our subsidised early childhood education page.

Student welfare in pre-school education

Student welfare refers to promoting and maintaining children’s lea ing, mental and physical health, and social well-being, as well as activities that enhance the conditions for these. Student welfare consists of communal and individual student welfare. 

The focus of student welfare is on community-based student welfare work, which is preventive and supports the well-being of the entire community. To achieve this goal, each pre-school unit has a student welfare team. 

Individual student welfare services include psychological and counselling services as well as multidisciplinary individual student welfare services, which are provided by a multidisciplinary team of experts in cooperation with the child and their guardians. This always requires the consent of the child and/or their guardians. 

The Central Uusimaa Welfare Area (Keusote) is responsible for student welfare counselling and psychological services.

Further information on curator and psychologist services 

You can find more information about curator and psychologist services on the website of the Central Uusimaa Welfare Region Keusote.

We would like to survey your thoughts, as guardians and children, on the transition to pre-school or school. The survey includes questions for guardians and children. Please go through the questions addressed to children together with your child and record the answers according to what they tell you. Your answers are important for updating the municipality’s pre-school education plan. As a result of the amendment to the Basic Education Act prepared by the Ministry of Education and Culture, lea ing support in pre-school and basic education will be reformed. The current three-tier support model
will be discontinued. Due to the amendment to the Basic Education Act and related laws, the pre-school education curriculum guidelines have been updated and will come into force on 1 August 2025.

Summary of open responses

What things are important to guardians in order to make the transition to preschool or school as smooth as possible for their child?

• data transfer and cooperation
• getting acquainted in advance
• familiarity and safety
• safe and warm environment
• the individual needs of the child
• the importance of routines and community spirit.

What do you think is important in pre-school education from a guardian’s perspective?

• Individual support and interaction with children
• lea ing social and emotional skills
• lea ing school readiness skills
• safe and enabling environment
• the importance of play
• cooperation between parents and staff.

QUESTIONS FOR CHILDREN: What is or would be enjoyable about preschool? Important things
for children at school and in preschool are:

• Friends and social relationships
• Play is seen as the most important part of the day.
• Lea ing new things through fun
• Supporting creativity
• Variety: Children enjoy varied days that include outdoor activities, exercise, excursions and celebrations.
• Safety: A calm and safe atmosphere and friendly adults.
• Lea ing independence and study skills: Focusing on tasks, working in a group and taking responsibility for one's own affairs

The open-ended responses will be used to develop cooperation between pre-school and early education, as well as between guardians and pre-school education.

Many thanks to all respondents!