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Day care
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In Finland all children under seven years old have the right to have day care organized by municipalities, after parental leave. The parents, who have children under three years old, have the right of nursing leave without the risk of losing their jobs. Both parents can’t be on the nursing leave at the same time. KELA (The Social Insurance institution in Finland) gives support for children’s day care in households. Financial support for private care can be applied from Kela (children under seven years old), if a private nurse organizes the day care service.
Parents who have children under seven years old can choose from several day care options:
- Childcare at home and nursing support, when at least one child is under three years old
- Municipal day care
- Day care organized with private day care support
Private day care support
The family may choose a private day care support as an alternative for municipal day care or nursing support. With this support the family can choose between private playschool, private nurse services or hire themselves a nurse at home. The private support can be applied from KELA.
How much does the day care cost?
The price of the day care organized by municipalities, depends of the parents salaries. Private playschool can be more expensive than the communes playschools or private day care. Children’s playgrounds, clubs and open day care are less expensive.
Private day care at home
Private day care provides individual and homey care mostly for children under five year old. Private day care is divided in three different forms:
- The children are in the home of the nurse
- A private nurse comes to the children’s home
- The children are in a group day care (this means that the groups are small)
Shift and evening care
Children who need day care after 6 pm, because of their parents work or studies, it is organized in day cares specialized in night and evening care. In the mornings the child can come to the day care center before 6 am. It will be agreed with the parents, when the child will be collected from day care. That depends of the age of the child and parents' working hours. Evening care ends no later than 10pm. The price of the evening and night care is the same than in other day cares. Night and evening care can also be used in casual demands and situations.
Day care in foreign languages.
The City of Tampere provides day care in foreign languages; In Swedish, English, French and German.
Concerning Swedish-speaking day care, the city buys its services from Svenska Barndaghemmet. In addition, there is a French-speaking play club.
French-speaking day care centre of Tampere - Filière Franco-Finlandaise de Tampere
International Early Education Center Oy (purchased services)
Kaleva Day Care Centre
Maijalanpuisto Day Care Centre
Svenska Barndaghemmet (purchased services)
Special day care
Some children need special assistance and support in their growth and development. With different day care support measures, children with special needs can benefit of these functions. Some children requiring special assistance are placed in special day care groups with fewer children than usual.
Some children need special assistance and support in their growth and development. With different day care support measures, children with special needs can benefit of these functions. Some children requiring special assistance are placed in special day care groups with fewer children than usual.
Short-term child care services
The Mannerheim League for Child Welfare (MLL) offers you help with child care. The League’s child care service is meant to meet temporary and short term needs for child care assistance, around the clock, also on weekends.
The Mannerheim League for Child Welfare has a pool of babysitters. They are trained and suitable to work with children. A typical babysitter is a student under 20 years of age. In addition to initial training, MLL also provides advanced training, supervision and counseling to babysitters on a regular basis. Qualified babysitters hold a valid license issued by MLL.
Short term child care service is available for example when
- a child is ill
- a parent is ill
- the child’s permanent caregiver is ill
- a parent is on a business trip, in a meeting, or studying
- parents need a break for hobbies or to spend some time together
More information about day care in Finland
