Helsinki faces €1.2 million in extra costs from unannounced daycare absences

Unannounced absences at Helsinki’s daycare centers cost the city an estimated €1.2 million in extra expenses last summer, Yle reports.

The unplanned absences led to unnecessary staffing costs and food waste, as personnel, meals, and cleaning services are arranged based on the number of children registered in advance.

Helsinki recorded over 23,000 unannounced absence days last summer, with July seeing the highest number. Many parents had reserved summer daycare spots as a precaution, even if they ended up not needing them.

In Vantaa, about 30% of reserved daycare places typically go unused during the summer, according to early education chief Kati Timo. Espoo also sees the most unannounced absences in the summer months, said Marianne Jyväsjärvi, the city’s early education development manager.

Helsinki has reminded parents since spring to report absences promptly, urging them to notify the child’s group via text or phone call if plans change. Early education fees cover only about 10% of costs, and refunds are generally not issued for short absences.

July is fee-free for children whose early education began by September 2025, and two to three consecutive months of absence during summer are exempt from charges if reported by the April deadline.

Some municipalities, including Mikkeli, Joensuu, and Riihimäki, have introduced penalty fees for unannounced absences, but the capital region has not adopted such measures.