Notify your child of preschool no later than 23 January

Children born in 2016 will start free preschool on 15 August 2022.

According to the Basic Education Act, a child must participate in pre-primary education or other activities that achieve the objectives of pre-primary education for one year in the year preceding the start of compulsory education. The responsibility for the child's participation is with the guardian.

Report your child to preschool with an electronic application from 10 January to 23 January 2022.
You will need to fill in an electronic application.


For children who started a two-year preschool in a pilot group last autumn (2021), there is no need to fill out the application because they have already been granted a preschool place. These children will continue in the same units also this autumn.


Children born in 2017 who are appointed by researchers from the Ministry of Education to the two-year preschool pilot group will register for the experiment at a later date to be announced. The guardians of these children will be informed in person.

What is preschool? information to guardians remotely on 10 January 2022

Oulu Early Childhood Education services will organise a Teams information evening in Finnish on Monday 10 January 2022 at 17.30-18.30. The event will tell you what pre-primary education means in practice, which changes when pre-primary education begins, what benefits pre-primary pupils have and how to en register for preschool education. Participants have the opportunity to ask questions about preschool with the Teams messaging feature.


Participation link to the information evening: bit.ly/esiopetusinfo


More information on pre-primary education can also be found on the  English-language website of  pre-primary education: https://www.ouka.fi/oulu/english/preschool1

N.B! if you need help filling inthe application or want to discuss a pre-primary education place suitable for your child, you can contact early childhood education and care service guidance on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. tel. 08 558 45300, or send an email to varhaiskasvatus@ouka.fi.

Best Regards;


Miia Kemppi

Director of Early Childhood Education

Education and Culture Education and Cultural Services