Starting early childhood education

Initial discussion

Once a place in early childhood education has been granted, an early childhood education teacher or a family daycare provider will contact the family to arrange a time for an initial discussion and an introductory visit.

During the initial discussion, you can tell us about your child, your family’s daily life, and things that are important to you. We will discuss, for example, the child’s interests and strengths, eating habits and sleep, people and things important to the child, and the guardians’ wishes and thoughts regarding the start of early childhood education. We will also tell you about the daily routine at the daycare centre or family daycare, the group of children, and practical matters.

Getting to know the daycare centre or family daycare place

During the introductory period, the child and their guardians can participate in the daily activities of early childhood education while getting to know the other children and staff. The time spent on the introduction varies according to the needs of the child and the family. The child can stay alone without a guardian to practice being at the daycare centre/family daycare from the day the early childhood education decision is in effect. Guardians of children starting in August should note that only some daycare centres are open in July.

The child’s transition can be supported by a familiar toy or a photo of loved ones. The early childhood education staff will help the child join the group and process any feelings of missing home. During the initial phase, the child may be more tired than usual, more sensitive, or may need more comfort and closeness.

Booking care hours

Hämeenlinna’s early childhood education services use the Päikky system. Guardians must book the child’s daily care hours in the Päikky booking calendar. In Päikky, you can also monitor information related to the child’s early childhood education and communicate with the staff. Log in to Päikky and report the required care hours well in advance of starting early childhood education.

Instructions for logging into Päikky and booking care hours can be found here:

Meals and special diets

In early childhood education, children are provided with nutritious and tasty food. Daycare centres provide breakfast, lunch, and a snack, and in shift care, dinner and an evening snack are also served. Meals are ordered from catering service providers based on the booked care hours.

If the child requires a special diet (allergy, vegetarian, or vegan diet), please report the special diet in advance so that it can be ordered and prepared in time.

Early childhood education plan discussions

An early childhood education plan (ECEC plan) is drawn up for the child 2–3 months after starting. The plan is prepared for every child together with the guardians and early childhood education staff. The child can also participate in the joint discussion. The discussion focuses on the child’s strengths, interests, and needs, and how these are taken into account in early childhood education and during free time. During the discussion, we plan together how the child’s growth, well-being, and learning will be supported in early childhood education.