Client fees

The client fees for early childhood education are determined in accordance with the Act on Client Fees in Early Childhood Education and Care (effective from 1 March 2017). The fee for early childhood education is based on the family’s size, income and the hours reserved per month.

Family size, income limits and fee rates
Number of people in the family Income limit EUR/month Highest fee rate
2 4,066 10.7 %
3 5,245 10.7 %
4 5,956 10.7 %
5 6,667 10.7 %
6 7,376 10.7 %

If the size of the family is larger than six (6), EUR 275 is added to the income limit based on which the fee is determined for each subsequent underage child in the family.

If the same family has more than one child in early childhood education organised by the municipality, a sibling discount is determined in the family’s client fees. The client fee of the youngest child in care is determined in accordance with the table above. A fee that is a maximum of 40% of the fee of the youngest child is determined for the next child in order of age. The fee determined for each subsequent child is a maximum of 20% of the fee of the youngest child.

If a child’s guardians live in different addresses, but early childhood education is provided for the child in only one municipality, the fee is determined based on the income of the family with whom the child has an address according to the population register. An exception is a situation where only one guardian needs early childhood education services. In that case, the fee is determined based on the income of that guardian’s family.

Hour limit table
Care/early childhood education hours reserved for the child per month Fee rate of the full-time monthly fee 
over 151 h / over 35 per week 100 %
126-150 h 90 %
106-125 h 80 %
86-105 h 70 %
66-85 h / about 20 h per week 60 %
under 65 h 50 %

The family calculates and reserves the number of hours in early childhood education needed for their child. The fee is determined based on the hours reserved in accordance with the table above.

Preschool education, which is organised for 700 h/year, 19 h/week, is free of charge. Care needed in addition to preschool education is subject to a fee, and the tables above are used to determine the client fee. In addition, the following hour limit table applies to preschool children during preschool education:

Preschool education: hour table
Care hours per month reserved for the child in addition to preschool education Fee rate of the full-time monthly fee
30 h 35 %

The client fee for early childhood education is charged once a month, for a maximum of eleven calendar months per operating year. The maximum fee charged is EUR 311. If the child-specific monthly fee is less than EUR 30, it will not be charged. The total fee amount is rounded to full euros.

The penalty interest on the payment is 10% and is enforceable without a court order.

Payment arrangement of day care invoices: tel. +358 40 135 6767

Act on Client Fees in Early Childhood Education and Care (in Finnish)

Early childhood education fee calculator (in Finnish).

The child plays with legions.
Photo: Pixabay.