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Guardians in the metropolitan area were very satisfied with early childhood education and pre-primary education

23.1.2025 8.08
The children and the teacher are building something out of large building blocks.
Photo: Taru Turpeinen

The families give early childhood education and pre-primary education the school grade 9.04.

The families in the metropolitan area were very satisfied with early childhood education and pre-primary education. This is seen in the customer survey, together conducted by the cities.

Espoo, Helsinki, Kauniainen, and Vantaa conducted a customer survey of guardians of children in municipal and private early childhood education and pre-primary education on October 23 - November 17, 2024.

The survey was sent to guardians of around 54,400 children. The survey was answered by families of 11,582 children. The survey was conducted by Taloustutkimus

Guardians’ satisfaction has increased

The families give early childhood education and pre-primary education the school grade 9.04.

Compared to the previous survey, the guardians’ satisfaction has increased. In the 2022 survey, the guardians gave the general grade of 8.8.

“Forty percent of the respondents give a full ten and more than a third give a nine to early childhood education in the metropolitan area. In practice, there is hardly any negative feedback,” says Senior Insight Manager Timo Myllymäki of Taloustutkimus.

“What is also worth noticing is the fact that also in the previous surveys, the guardians’ assessments have been excellent. Early childhood education work in the metropolitan area has long been of high quality,” Myllymäki adds.

Families appreciate the personnel

The families in the metropolitan area were very satisfied with the initial practices of beginning early childhood education and pre-primary education.

The guardians especially appreciate the getting-to-know the new place, as well as how the start-up process has been arranged.

Ninety percent of guardians of children who began early childhood education or pre-primary education in fall 2024 and who answered the survey were of the opinion that the children’s needs were accounted for when early childhood education or pre-primary education began.

“The Lapset puheeksi - Let´s Talk about Children (LTC) method has turned out to be a superior tool in the transition phases. It makes beginning early childhood education easier by allowing the children’s and families’ wishes to be heard, as well as by creating a solid ground for good cooperation,” says early childhood education manager Annika Hiitola of the City of Kauniainen.

Ninety-five percent of the guardians that responded the survey feel that they are encountered with appreciation and kindness in their child's early childhood education or pre-primary education place.

Ninety percent of the guardians were of the opinion that the employees listen to their wishes and feedback.

Families are satisfied with the support their children receive

Furthermore, the guardians were very satisfied with how their children like being in early childhood education or pre-primary education and the support they are given.

Ninety percent of the guardians that answered the survey feel that their children get the support they need in their own groups. Ninety-five percent of the guardians felt that the employees in the groups had a positive and encouraging attitude toward the children.

“In Helsinki, we have put major input in developing inclusive early childhood education during the past few years and we have bolstered the employees’ know-how in supporting children. Furthermore, we have increased various kinds of support resources. It is great that this work is also seen by the guardians,” says Miia Kemppi, early childhood education director of the City of Helsinki.

Children’s firm favorites are playing and friends

Ninety-three percent of the guardians that answered the survey say that their children are enthusiastic about learning, and 92% are of the opinion that their children have friends in early childhood education and pre-primary education.

“It is a joy to see that so many guardians feel that their children are enthusiastic about learning and that they have found friends in early childhood education and pre-primary education”, says Virpi Mattila, early childhood education director of the City of Espoo’s Finnish-language early childhood education.

“It is important that we feed this spark of learning, because it creates the foundation for life-long learning. Meanwhile, peer relationships are essential for a child's development, especially for the development of social skills,” Mattila adds.

In the survey, the children were asked about the things that make them happy in the daycare centers. Playing and friends, as well as friendly adults, bring most joy to the children.

“It is nice to hear that children are gladdened by playing, friends, and warm-hearted adults. Interaction is one of our most important factors in high-quality early childhood education, and we want to strengthen it in the future, as well,” says development manager Katjamaria Halme of the City of Vantaa’s early childhood education.

What causes worry to the children are various kinds of conflicts with other children.

“Friendship and emotional skills are learned when interacting with others, and it is our job as adults to teach these skills in early childhood education. “In safe daycare center environments, we are practicing these skills every day in various situations,” Katjamaria Halme adds.

Espoo’s results are in line with the rest of the metropolitan area

Espoo’s results highlight the same strengths as those of the other municipalities in the metropolitan area. Guardian satisfaction is high, and the average of all responses is over four (on a scale of 1 to 5).

As the survey has undergone changes, a direct comparison with previous years’ results is only possible in terms of the overall rating. Respondents from Espoo gave a school grade of 8.99, while the school grade in the 2022 survey was 8.9.

"Warm thanks to all guardians for the time you have spent responding to the survey and collaborating with the early childhood education staff", says Barbro Högström, Director of Swedish Educational and Cultural Services in Espoo.

In Espoo, guardians are very satisfied with children’s involvement and the quality of activities. In particular, they praise employees’ positive and encouraging attitude towards children, children’s enthusiasm for learning, and friendships between children. In addition, the availability of support in one’s own group and opportunities for play and other activities are considered very good.

“Warm thanks to all guardians for the time you have spent responding to the survey and collaborating with the early childhood education staff”, says Barbro Högström, Director of Unit for Swedish Education and Cultural Services in Espoo.

“In Espoo's early childhood education, we want to provide all children with a safe and stimulating start in life. The goal is for children to develop socially, emotionally, and cognitively. The excellent work of the staff, as well as the leadership and cooperation with guardians on children's matters, work well and help us understand the importance of continuing this collaboration. We look forward to this!" Högström states.

Background facts about the survey

The respondents could answer the survey in Finnish, Swedish, English, Estonian, Russian, Albanian, Arabic, and Somali.

The response rate of the survey amounted to 19%. The response rate was 46% in Kauniainen, 24% in Vantaa, 18% in Espoo, and 17% in Helsinki.

The metropolitan area cities have been conducting the survey since 2008. The cities are utilizing the survey results in developing early childhood education.

The aim is to conduct the customer survey next in 2026.

Downloadable files

Additional information:

You will find more information about the city-specific results of the customer survey on the cities’ own websites.

Helsinki:

Espoo:

Vantaa:

Kauniainen: