Client fees for early childhood education and care will decrease from August onwards
The Government's proposal to amend the Act on Client Fees in Early Childhood Education and Care (1052/2020) was adopted in December 2020. The amendments to the Act will enter into force on 1 August 2021.
Client fees for early childhood education will be reduced by raising the income thresholds on which the fees are based by 31%. In addition, the fees charged for siblings will be lowered to 40% (instead of the current 50%) of the imputed full-time early childhood education and care fee for the youngest child.
Monthly client fees for full-time early childhood education and care as of 1 August 2021
The payment percentages and income thresholds are:
| Family size, persons | Income threshold, EUR/month | Highest rate of payment |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2 798 | 10,70 |
| 3 | 3 610 | 10,70 |
| 4 | 4 099 | 10,70 |
| 5 | 4 588 | 10,70 |
| 6 | 5 075 | 10,70 |
The purpose is to improve employment and to increase the participation rate in early childhood education and care. The client fees for early childhood education and care of low-income and middle-income families, in particular, will decrease. All families with more than one child in early childhood education and care will also benefit from the change in the sibling discount. As a result of the legislative amendment, approximately 20,000 families will be entitled to free early childhood education and care.
Inquiries:
Anne-Marie Brisson, Senior Ministerial Adviser, tel. +358 2953 30079
Tarja Kahiluoto, Senior Ministerial Adviser, tel. +358 2953 30386
You can use the online calculator (only in Finnish and Swedish) to calculate your new client fees for early childhood education and care