The goal of Pre-primary education is to improve children’s opportunities for learning and development. Pre-primary education plays an important part in the continuum stretching from early childhood education and care to basic education. Since 2015, participation in Pre-primary education has been compulsory for all children in Finland. Pre-primary education is provided free of charge.

The person who has custody of a child must ensure that the child participates in Pre-primary education or other corresponding activities meeting the objectives set for Pre-primary education. The National Core Curriculum for Pre-Primary Education, approved by the Finnish National Agency for Education, guides the planning of the contents of Pre-primary education and functions as the basis for drawing up the local curricula.