Summary
Decision in Principle of the Council of State Concerning the National Policy Definition
on Early Childhood Education and Care. Helsinki, 2002. 28p. (Publications of the Ministry
of Social Affairs and Health, ISSN 1236-2050; 2002:9.) ISBN 952-00-1117-X.
The preparation of the Decision in Principle Concerning the National Policy Definition
on Early Childhood Education and Care is included in the Target and Action Plan for Social
Welfare and Health Care 2000–2003 approved by the Council of State.
The central principles and focuses of development of Finnish early childhood education
and care have been gathered together in the national policy on early childhood education
and care. Early childhood education and care is a part of life-long learning. The primary
right and responsibility for children's education lies with the parents. It is society's
role to support parents in their educational task. Care, education and teaching should
form a seamless whole, which flexibly supports the individual development of each child.
The aim is to develop the service system from the point of view of the needs of children
and families. In the policy definitions the importance of co-operation between different
administrations in relation to the organisation of early childhood education and care
services for children and parents as well as the educational partnership of parents and
personnel is emphasised. The policy definitions concerning early childhood education and
care create a basis for a new tool for steering the content of national early childhood
education and care, the early childhood education and care plan.
In the national policy on early childhood education and care proposals for action are
presented, among other things the reform of legislation, the development of national
guidance for early childhood education and care, the maintenance and reinforcement of the
professional skill of personnel as well as the development of follow-up and evaluation for
early childhood education and care. The aim of the definitions is also to influence the
preparation of similar municipal policy definitions in municipalities for example as a
part of their child- and family strategy.
The Decision in Principle was prepared in the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health in
co-operation with the National Research and Development Centre for Welfare and Health.
During the preparations the Ministry of Education and the Association of Finnish Local and
Regional Authorities were heard. Material from the National Research and Development
Centre for Welfare and Health (DN:o 75/59/2000) was used as a base for which the
preparation took place through widespread co-operation between among others the
Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities, the occupational organisations of
the field, experts on early childhood education of the universities and polytechnics as
well as between other co-operational sectors.
Key words: Child care, children's day care, early childhood education, preschool
education