Transportation for early childhood education and care and pre-primary education

It is possible for a guardian to apply for transportation for their child to attend early childhood education and care or pre-primary education, if the criteria for transportation set by the board are met.

Transportation for early childhood education and care

The Early Childhood Education Act does not oblige a municipality to provide transport for a child to early childhood education. The primary responsibility for transporting a child to early childhood education and care lies with the child's guardians.

Education Committee of the City of Tampere has revised the transport criteria for early childhood education from 1 May, 2026.

Applications for early childhood education transport are made by separate transport application. The application period for early childhood education transportation for the 2026–2027 school year is May 11–24, 2026.

The guardian will discuss with the daycare centre staff whether the child meets the prerequisites for transport. If they do, the daycare centre will provide the guardian with a link to an online form to be filled.

If the need for transport emerges during the administrative year, processing the application and arranging for transport will take a minimum of two weeks.

The transportation is provided by Tuomi Logistiikka company: [email protected]

No transportation to therapeutic services be provided by the early childhood education services. During school vacation time, transportation is provided as needed.

Transportation for pre-primary education

School transportation benefits may be granted to Tampere residents enrolled in pre-primary education at City of Tampere schools who meet the eligibility criteria.

School transportation criteria

Summary of the criteria for receiving school transportation to a preschool placement designated by the city:

• The pre-primary education pupil’s commute is over 5 km
• School transportation is provided for pre-primary education pupil’s attending activities that supplement early childhood education at schools within the city.
• In the City of Tampere, eligibility for school transportation applies only to the primary pre-primary education admission
• Based on the difficulty, strenuousness, or danger of the school commute. School transportation is granted on health grounds based on the strenuous nature of the school commute, provided that an individual-specific multidisciplinary student welfare expert group has assessed the student’s ability to manage the commute.

School transportation is arranged at the city’s expense, primarily via public transportation. A preschooler may be granted group transportation if public transportation is not available and if the length of the school commute would otherwise qualify them for school transportation.

The decision regarding eligibility for school transportation is made by the regional directors of early childhood education and preschool.

If the need for transportation arises during the school year, processing the application and arranging transportation will take at least two weeks.