Before comprehensive school, children must attend one year of pre-primary education or some other activity where the goals of pre-primary education can be achieved. Pre-primary education for children born in 2018 begins in Espoo on 8 August 2024.

The enrolment for pre-primary education is made with an electronic application on the eVaka service at espoonvarhaiskasvatus.fi(external link, opens in a new window). Log into the service by identifying yourself through suomi.fi, which requires online banking codes or a mobile ID. In order to enrol your child in pre-primary education, you must identify yourself even if you already have an existing eVaka user ID for early childhood education. Enrolment for pre-primary education in the 2024–2025 school year takes place on 9–26 January 2024. You can leave your application in the system also after the application period.

In exceptional situations, you can enrol your child to pre-primary education by submitting a paper application (if, for example, you do not have a personal identity code or online banking credentials).

Decisions for the pre-primary education beginning in the autumn 2024 will be made starting from 22 March 2024. The guardian will receive the decision through the www.espoonvarhaiskasvatus.fi(external link, opens in a new window) service. We recommend taking into use also the message service of Suomi.fi -website. This way the guardian will get the information also there.

Please note that applications submitted after the application period will be processed as secondary applications.

Contact information

Finnish early childhood education service guidance

+358 9 81631000Mailing address PL 3125 02070 Espoon kaupunki

Contact information

Mondays 9-13 am
Tuesdays 9-13 am 
Wednesdays 9-13 am
Thursdays 13-16 pm
Fridays 9-13 am

The service guidance team gives families advice on how to apply for early childhood education and on matters related to childcare allowances.

Swedish-language early childhood education service guidance

+358 9 81627600Postal address PB 3125 02070 Esbo stad

Telephone guidance hours:
Monday 9-11 am and 12-14 pm
Tuesday  13-16 pm
Wednesday 9-11 am and 12-14 pm
Friday 9–12 am

The service guidance team gives families advice on how to apply for Swedish-language early childhood education and on matters related to childcare allowances.