Pre-primary education

According to the Basic Education Act, a child must attend one year of pre-primary education or other activities that meet the objectives of pre-primary education during the year preceding the beginning of compulsory education. Children subject to extended compulsory education must attend pre-primary education in the year in which their compulsory education begins. In addition, children subject to extended compulsory education are entitled to pre-primary education in the year in which they turn five years old.

A child’s guardian must ensure that the child attends pre-primary education or other activities meeting the objectives of pre-primary education.

The City of Lappeenranta organises free-of-charge pre-primary education for 6-year-olds, 5-year-olds subject to extended compulsory education and children starting school at a later time. Pre-primary education follows the school term dates and holidays of the schools in Lappeenranta and lasts for at least 700 hours per year and approximately for 4 hours per day. Pre-primary education is provided at daycare centres. Some of the daycare centre groups are located at a school. If your child needs early childhood education in addition to pre-primary education, the fee is determined based on the care need.

Pre-primary education is goal-oriented upbringing and teaching, which is closely linked to both early childhood education and basic education. Pre-primary education in accordance with the Basic Education Act is the first step in the education system and it is part of the pedagogy of early childhood education. The main goal is to support the child’s overall growth and development and to improve learning potential before school. The goal is to build a consistently progressing continuum in view of the child’s growth, development and learning from early childhood education through pre-primary education to basic education.

Play, functional ways of working and richness of experiences in a diverse learning environment are pre-primary education methods. Open and natural cooperation with homes is also a prerequisite for the success of pre-primary education.

Special early childhood education is also provided in pre-primary education when the child needs more support measures than usual.

Instructions

Lappeenranta has been selected to participate in the two-year pre-primary education trial of the Ministry of Education and Culture, wherein two-year pre-primary education is carried out. The trial started in August 2021 and continues until the end of May 2024. The aim is, among other things, to improve the quality and effectiveness of pre-primary education, to strengthen educational equality and to examine the continuums between early childhood education and pre-primary education and primary education. The goal is to obtain information about the effects of the trial on children’s development and learning potential, social skills and the formation of healthy self-esteem.

Enrol your child in pre-primary education by filling in an electronic enrolment form. If your child needs early childhood education in addition to pre-primary education, apply for it in connection with the enrolment. Early childhood education is subject to a client fee based on the family’s size, income and service needs. Pre-primary education hours are free of charge.

As regards transport and reimbursement of travel costs, the same principles apply as in basic education.

More information is available from the head of the early childhood education unit and service guidance for early childhood education.

Payment information

The service is free of charge.

Supplementary early childhood education is subject to a fee.

Service background and legislation

Children in the pre-primary education age, or 6 years, participate in pre-primary education organised by the municipality. Those 7-year-olds whose school attendance has been postponed also participate in pre-primary education. It can additionally be attended by 5-year-olds to whom a decision on extended compulsory education has been issued.

The children receive pre-primary education for four hours every morning. During this time, a lunch is served to the children.

Under the Basic Education Act, participation in pre-primary education is mandatory. A child’s guardian is responsible for ensuring that the child participates in pre-primary education or activities that meet its objectives during the school year that precedes the start of compulsory education.