The application period for the 2023–2024 term of Finnish-language early childhood education clubs is now open

The Finnish-language early childhood education in Espoo organises free-of-charge clubs for 2–5-year-old children. In the club, the children make friends and have the opportunity to practice social skills and how to act in a group. The clubs provide high-quality and meaningful activities and they are intended for children who are being cared for at home. The operations support the growth and development of children and the educational work of families.

In the early childhood education clubs, children are without their parents/guardians for 2–3 hours at a time, on 2–3 days a week. The club is instructed by two competent professionals. The group size is 8–14 children, depending on the age of the children. The clubs include a lot of fun activities such as playing, singing, crafting, reading, and playing sports. There is also a snack break when children can eat the snacks they have brough from home.

Club activities are mainly held before noon, in the facilities of day-care centres and residents’ parks around Espoo. The clubs are in Finnish, but all children living in Espoo are welcome regardless of their native language.

The clubs of the 2023–2024 term begin in the autumn on 10 August 2023 and end in the spring on 31 May 2024.

The early childhood education clubs follow the holidays of schools and pre-primary education, which means that there are no club activities during the autumn, Christmas and winter breaks. The holiday periods of clubs are listed here.

The application period for the 2023–2024 club term is 1–31 March 2023.

You can submit an electronic club application for your child at the address www.espoonvarhaiskasvatus.fi(external link, opens in a new window) The system requires strong authentication upon login, such as online banking credentials.

The decision on granting a place in a club is made for one term. However, after the application period, you can also apply to clubs for places that may be released during the term. A club application can be submitted even if the term has begun. The applications are valid until the end of the term.

You can find all the early childhood education clubs in Espoo in this map view.(external link, opens in a new window) Select ‘club’ in the map menu.