Registration for the free summer session in early childhood education
Registration for the free summer 2026 sessions in early childhood education
Eight (8) weeks of free care
In Tampere’s municipal early childhood education, families have the opportunity to choose eight (8) weeks of free absence for the summer and receive June and July free of charge in exchange. A continuous eight (8)-week absence can be taken between June 1 and August 23, 2026.
The condition for the free period is that the child has been in municipal early childhood education for at least one operational year in every month and started early childhood education no later than August 31, 2025. A guaranteed early childhood education spot or parental leave does not interrupt the client relationship.
Conditions for the eight-week fee-free period
- The child must have started early childhood education no later than August 31, 2025
- The child/family has been a client of municipal early childhood education for at least one operational year in every month (a guaranteed spot or parental leave period does not interrupt client status).
- Early childhood education enrollment continues at least until the end of the selected absence period
- The child’s continuous absence lasts eight (8) weeks
- Binding registration in eVaka from March 25 to April 8, 2026
Child transitioning to preschool
The free period for a child transitioning to preschool must end before the start of preschool; that is, it is possible to select a free period ending no later than August 2, 2026, for the future preschooler. The fall semester of preschool begins on Thursday, August 6, 2026. You may also cancel your current early childhood education spot during the summer when the need ends. The preschool spot starting in August 2026, as well as any early childhood education spot supplementing preschool, will remain unchanged.
Children transitioning to basic education
The free periods do not apply to children transitioning to the first grade of basic education in August 2026. The guardian terminates the future schoolchild’s early childhood education spot in eVaka when the need for early childhood education ends.
Binding registrations for the eight (8) week fee-free period must be made in eVaka between March 25 and April 8, 2026. After this date, it will no longer be possible to register or make changes.
The survey can be found in eVaka at https://varhaiskasvatus.tampere.fi > Calendar tab > Respond to the absence survey > Select your desired 8-week free period > Confirm.
Instructions for registering an 8-week free absence in eVaka
If a guardian is unable to log in to the early childhood education online service (eVaka), they may contact the director of their child’s early childhood education unit directly.
July is always free of charge if the child started early childhood education by August 31 at the latest (Early Childhood Education Customer Fee Act).
Option for families whose child started early childhood education on or after September 1, 2025
Children who start early childhood education on or after September 1, 2025, have the option to choose a fee-free July 2026, provided the child does not attend early childhood education on any day during July. Binding registrations must be submitted via the e-Form between March 25 and April 8, 2025
This form is intended only for families whose child started early childhood education on or after September 1, 2025.
For more information on the free periods during the summer and how to register for them, please contact the directors of the early childhood education units or the Early Childhood Education Service Guidance.
Contract days and free eight (8)-week periods in summer 2026
If you have early childhood education contract days available, you can use them during the summer depending on the selected eight (8) week absence period as follows:
| Unpaid leave in the summer of 2026 | Available care days when the child has 10 days per month under the agreement | Available care days when the child has 15 days of care per month under the agreement | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June | August | June | August | |
| 1.6. - 26.7 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 15 |
| 8.6. - 2.8. | 2 | 10 | 3 | 15 |
| 15.6. - 9.8 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 11 |
| 22.6. - 16.8. | 7 | 5 | 11 | 7 |
| 29.6. - 23.8. | 10 | 2 | 15 | 3 |
More information about free summer periods and registration
- Eearly Childhood Education Unit Directors
- Early Childhood Education Service Guidance
e-mail: [email protected]
phone: 040 8007260, Mon–Thu 9–11