Preschool education

Legal preschool education organized by the municipal authority is intended for all children under school age one year before compulsory school education commences. The season of preschool education starts in the middle of August and lasts until the 31st of May and includes at least 700 lessons. Preschool education is voluntary and free of charge and lasts four hours a day. Day care services other than preschool education are chargeable.

Preschool education enrolment 2012

All children born in 2006 who have been enrolled may participate in preschool education.

Preschool education is provided in 41 day care centres and 30 schools managed by the City of Tampere, as well as in six outsourced or private day care centres.

Enrolment must be completed by 14 February 2012. Enrolment will be carried out by filling in an electronic application form. Alternatively, the enrolment can be carried out by filling in a paper application form, available at day care centres or on this website. The paper form should be returned to the day care centre near home. Enrolment in preschool education at private day care centres will be carried out by applying directly to the chosen day care centre.
Preschool education will be provided from 13 August 2012 until 31 May 2013 mainly during term time. Daily preschool education is provided for four hours a day. The child’s need for day care should also be indicated during the enrolment.

Application for preschool education:

Paper application form:

Enrolment in preschool education 2012 - 2013, (in Finnish) (pdf, 275 KB)

The preschool education is organized by the Tampere City Department for Day Care and Basic Education. Vacation times follow the semester of basic education:

Preschool education is based on the principles laid out by the Ministry of Education. The same principles that are the basis of designing a common educational preschool programme for the entire municipality are also the basis of day care centres’ own activity plans.

In the autumn 2012, a total of 16 schools and their partner day care centres around the city will begin intensive cooperation in preschool and elementary education for the first and second grades. The goal is to observe individual development speed and the need for assistance during preschool and elementary education, as well as to reduce unnecessary transfers in the early stages of education. The operational model will be implemented throughout the city in the autumn of 2015.