Helsinki plans 15 pre-primary closures and nine new sites

Helsinki plans to close 15 Finnish-language pre-primary education locations and open nine new ones in the 2027–28 school year, Yle reports. The proposal would leave the city with 163 locations.

Existing locations in Helsinki areas including Kontula, Puistola, Ruoholahti and Kruununhaka would close as new premises become available. The Education and Training Committee’s subcommittee, which is considering the proposal, postponed its decision until its next meeting.

The changes reflect local demand for services, projected numbers of children and the availability of new premises, early childhood education director Miia Kemppi told Yle by email. The city plans to reduce locations in areas where the number of children is falling, such as the Latokartano school enrolment area, and add them where demand is growing, including Haaga.

Kemppi said the city is not seeking savings through the changes, though the location network affects costs. An underfilled pre-primary group still requires full staffing, and each vacant place costs about 8,000 euros a year. The city wants to direct staff resources to places where children actually live, she said.

Group sizes will remain between 14 and 21 children, in line with current practice and legal requirements. Where a daycare centre has only one pre-primary group, the target is about 21 children so that moves or changes in family circumstances are less likely to reduce the group below 12 during the school year.

Kemppi said the city aims to make the changes as permanent as possible. Each location has a maximum capacity that must not be exceeded.