Guidance and supervision of early childhood education
The municipality has a statutory obligation to control and supervise private early childhood education and care and its provision. This guidance and supervision is carried out by coordinators in cooperation with the Rescue Services, Building Control and Environmental Health.
Private ECEC is required to meet the same quality criteria as municipal ECEC. Service providers must draw up a statutory self-monitoring plan in accordance with Valvira's regulations.
A private service provider organising or providing early childhood education and care must have a licence to operate a day-care centre before starting its activities. On application, the Regional State Administrative Agency issues a permit to start a day-care centre.
A private operator wishing to start a family day-care centre must notify the municipality before commencing its activities.
Quality is assessed through the municipalities' own customer satisfaction surveys and through guidance, supervision and counselling. Service providers are also required to self-assess their performance, for example by updating their self-monitoring plan. Families also have an important role to play in assessing the quality of the early childhood education and care of their choice by giving direct feedback to the service provider or, for example, by responding to customer satisfaction surveys.