Application and Fees
Application
We are always happy to talk and provide more information to families interested in our daycare. A visit can be arranged with an appointment. We aim to fill all the groups every year in August; however, contact us if you are interested in joining during the school year. Sometimes changes may happen in the middle of the year, and there might be an available place, or you can always join the waiting list.
We accept waiting list applications on an ongoing basis. If you are interested in joining our groups, please contact the Daycare. (info@happytoddlers.com).
As we have small groups, we recommend joining the waiting list as early as possible.
To apply for daycare placement, the family/guardian must complete our application form, including the desired starting date. The application and waiting list fee of 30€ covers application and handling costs. Kindly contact us before applying.
Fees
Happy Toddlers is a not-for-profit organization with reasonable fees. All fees collected are used towards the daycare operations to benefit the children.
The current daycare fee is 1135€ per month per child for children 3 years and older and 1404€ per month per child for children under 3 years of age. KELA will support families with the fee.
1135€ OR 1404€ - KELA SUBSIDY - ESPOO CITY SUBSIDY = FEE TO BE PAID by the family
Families can apply from Kela for care-allowance (lakisääteinen hoitoraha) and Espoo City allowance (Espoo-lisää) subsidies. Depending on your family's situation, you might be entitled additionally to Kela care-allowance (tulosidonnainen hoitolisä) and Espoo City supplement (tulosidonnainen Espoo-lisä). Please note that depending on your children's age and family situation, these fees paid by the families may vary. Please see examples at the bottom of the page.
Espoo City monthly support is €510 for pre-school aged children; therefore, the Kela subsidy is lower.
SIBLING SUBSIDY
Families with more than one child in childcare or preschool in Espoo are entitled to sibling subsidy from the City of Espoo. Kindly note that Espoo City requests a new application for sibling subsidy every fiscal year. The sibling subsidy is allocated to the oldest child in daycare.
ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP FEE
The current parents' association membership fee is €120 per child/year. The due date for the fee is 31.8. each year. The membership fee is utilized for special activities e.g. field trips and excursions.
DEPOSIT
A one time deposit of 840€ is collected for each child upon signing the care agreement. This deposit is returned after the contract ends + / - any overpaid / underpaid fees.
EXAMPLE CALCULATIONS
Disclaimer: These are example calculations based on information available 06.06.2025. Should Kela and Espoo City support change, these calculations may no longer be valid. For latest information please refer directly to City of Espoo and Kela webpages, links below.
Example 1. Child A is 2,5 years old when joining Happy Toddlers. His fee is 1404€. His family is not eligible for additional Kela care-allowance or Espoo City supplement, but they can apply for regular care-allowance and Espoo City allowance. The fee paid by the family is:
1404€ - 192,28€ (care-allowance) - 793€ (Espoo City allowance) = 418,72€ per month
Example 2. Child B is 4 years old when joining Happy Toddlers. His fee is 1135€. His family is not eligible for additional Kela care-allowance or Espoo City supplement, but they can apply for regular care-allowance and Espoo City allowance. The fee paid by the family is:
1135€ - 192,28€ (care-allowance) - 524€ (Espoo City allowance) = 418,72€ per month
Private day care allowance (Kela) or
Amount and payment of private daycare allowance (Kela)
Private daycare allowances (City of Espoo)
1) Please contact us before applying
A Word version of the Application Form can be downloaded from this website (see link at the bottom of this column).
Please return to us by email (info@happytoddlers.com) along with a copy of the proof of payment of the €30 fee.
The Support Association's Board is responsible for determining the child's acceptance into the daycare.
2) Criteria
The Support Association's Board uses the following criteria when considering applications for enrollment:
1. Sibling criteria
Siblings have priority if they fit the 4 to 8 max. children per group and gender balance.
2. Other applicants criteria
Applications are considered relative to the 4 - 8 max. children per group, gender balance within the groups and application date.
3) Acceptance
After the acceptance of the child into Happy Toddlers daycare, the parents confirm their child's position by paying a one month deposit fee in advance.