Pre-primary education Transportation
The organisation of pre-primary education transportation follows the same general principles as school transportation under the Basic Education (Act § 32). A guardian must always apply for the transport benefit if the child’s one-way journey to pre-primary education is over five (5) kilometres and when the Koululiitu conditions are met. The Koululiitu method is used to evaluate the safety of the child’s travel route.
If the child’s journey from home or from an early childhood education (ECEC) centre to the pre-primary education unit is longer than five (5) kilometres, the child is entitled to free transportation. The child’s transport benefit covers only direct travel to and from pre-primary education.
Transportation may also be granted in one direction only. Morning transportation may be arranged if supplementary early childhood education is provided only after pre-primary education and afternoon transportation may be arranged if supplementary ECEC is provided only before pre-primary education.
Transportation is arranged when:
- The distance between home and the pre-primary education unit is more than five (5) kilometres in one direction.
- The journey is between home and the pre-primary education unit or between the ECEC centre and the pre-primary education unit.
- The Koululiitu assessment shows that the route does not meet safety requirements.
- The journey is considered too difficult, exhausting, or dangerous for the child, based on a professional statement by a doctor, social worker, or psychologist.
- The journey is between family day care and the pre-primary education unit, for a specific reason and taking local circumstances into account (according to the local education policy). For example, this may apply if there are no ECEC centres providing pre-primary education nearby and the child’s pre-primary place is located in their future school.
The City of Oulu’s transport benefit application and granting principles for pre-primary education are defined in the Board of Education decision (17 December 2024, § 103).
More detailed information is available in the School Transport Guide: Koulukuljetusopas (in Finnish).
Applying for transportation benefits
The transportation benefit is applied for using a specific application form. The form can be downloaded from this webpage.
The application must include an attachment of a statement from the head of the pre-primary education unit, or an expert statement (from a doctor, social worker, or psychologist). An expert statement does not automatically entitle the child to transportation, but it is considered in the decision-making process.
After pre-primary education placements have been confirmed, the completed application form must be submitted to the ECEC centre or school providing the pre-primary education by 15 May.
Granting Transportation Benefits
Decisions regarding transport benefit for journeys over five (5) kilometres are made by the head of the ECEC centre or school providing pre-primary education. For pre-primary education provided as a purchased service from a private ECEC centre, the decision is made by the Early Childhood Education Service Director.
When applying for elective transport benefit, the head of the ECEC centre reviews the application, checks the conditions, and prepares a statement. The final decision is made by the Regional Manager or the Early Childhood Education Service Manager.
If necessary, expert statements may be attached to the application (e.g. from a doctor, psychologist, occupational therapist, or social worker). These statements do not obligate the city to arrange transportation, but they are taken into consideration during the decision-making process.
Transport to early childhood education in not organized. The transport benefit applies only to pre-primary education.
Transportation may consist of shared or individual transport, provided by bus or taxi. In some cases, transportation may not cover the entire journey: the child may need to walk part of the distance or be accompanied by a guardian to a designated shared pick-up point and back.
Temporary Need for Transportation
Temporary transportation to pre-primary education due to sickness, accidents, or other short-term reasons are authorised by the head of the ECEC centre or school providing pre-primary education. For pre-primary education provided as a purchased service from a private ECEC centre, the decision is made by the Early Childhood Education Service Director.
If required, a doctor’s statement must be provided to confirm the need for transport and the duration of the arrangement.