All six-year-old children who will be starting school in the following year are entitled to attend preschool which is provided free of charge by the municipality. Preschool is voluntary, and children attend at their parents’ discretion. For the most part, preschool schedules are similar to school schedules.

The child’s parents, or a person authorised by the child’s parents, are responsible for taking the child to and picking
him/her up from the day care. Under § 32 of the Basic Education Act, children who attend free-of-charge preschool are entitled to free transportation when the distance to the nearest kindergarten providing preschool education exceeds five kilometres or when travelling to preschool would be too difficult, strenuous or dangerous for the child in view of his/
her age or other circumstances. The new principles for the transport of Oulu shall be decided in more detail during the
spring. This free transportation does not apply to preschoolers who also attend day care. Every effort will be made to provide
preschool education as close to the child’s home as possible and also in cooperation with the child’s future school.

What is preschool education?

The preschool year is an important phase in a child’s life. Preschool education supports the individual learning of children.
A child learns by doing and playing together with other children. Preschool education follows its own curriculum, which is
based on the national core curriculum.

Preschool and day care

Preschool attendance is completely voluntary. If the child requires day care in addition to preschool, the family will be
charged a fee for part-time day care (less than five hours of day care per day), which amounts to 60% of the family-specific fee for full-time day care. The fee for full-time day care applies to periods during which no preschool education is provided (e.g. during the summer). Preschool education which is provided in private kindergartens that are funded by service vouchers / private day care allowance receives additional financial support from the city.

Preschool education in practice

Preschool education is primarily provided in the part-time and full-time day care groups of municipal kindergartens.
A preschool group can be formed if at least seven children have been signed up for the preschool education. The goal
is to form groups that allow cooperation with the children’s future school. Children with special needs can be assigned
to the kindergarten’s preschool group, a smaller group or a preschool group for children who require special support.

In Oulunsalo, preschool education is provided at the Kirkonkylä, Niemenrantatalo, Pitkäkangas and Salonpää schools. In Kiiminki, preschool education is provided at the Alakylä, Huttukylä and Kiiminkijoki schools. In Oulu, preschool education is provided at the Ylikiiminki schools and the Leinonpuisto special school. Preschool education is also provided by the following schools: Oulun kristillinen koulu, Oulun normaalikoulu, Oulun steinerkoulu, Svenska Privatskolan i Uleåborg and Tervaväylä school.

Most private kindergartens also offer preschool education. Preschool education can be organised in a private kindergarten,
if at least three children have been signed up for it.

Preschool education in the English language is provided by the kindergarten Pikku-Ainon päiväkoti, at the premises of Oulu International School, for children who pass a separate
language test. Preschool education in the English language can be provided if there are at least 15 children who meet the selection criteria. The parents of the children in this preschool group will have to pay the costs of transportation
themselves.

Signing up for preschool

You can sign your child up for preschool during the period from 23 January 2012 to 10 February 2012 on the website
www.ouka.fi/english/health/daycareapplications.htm, by clicking on the “Sähköinen päivähoitohakemus” (electronic
day care application) link. Please select the “Esiopetukseen ilmoittautuminen” (signing up for preschool) option on
the front page.

Additional information:

Day care service coordination team,
tel. +358 (0)8 558 45300,
email: paivahoidonpalveluohjaus@ouka.fi

More detailed information is available from the kindergartens and schools providing preschool education.

Preschool year 2012–2013

Autumn term
Mon 13 August 2012 to Fri 21 December 2012

Spring term
Mon 7 January 2013 to Fri 31 May 2013
Autumn break
22 to 28 October 2012 (calendar week 43)
Christmas break
22 December 2012 to 6 January 2013
Winter break
4 to 8 March 2013 (calendar week 10)