Article categories: News
Proposal: Esikko Daycare will close, and Lönnbacken Daycare will move into the same premises
Published: 28.11.2025
A proposal has been made to close Esikko Daycare in Ristinummi. Under the proposal, Lönnbacken Daycare, currently operating in rented premises, would move into the space vacated by Esikko. The Board of Basic Education will decide on the matter at its meeting on 3 December 2025.
The City Council has approved an economic rebalancing programme for 2024–2027.
For Early Childhood Education and Care, the balancing programme includes giving up the modular facilities used by Lönnbacken Daycare in Ristinummi. Lönnbacken Daycare is currently operating in rented modular units. Giving up the modular facilities will save €316,000 per year.
New premises must be found for Lönnbacken Daycare, as there is a pressing need for Swedish-language early childhood education and care in the area. It is proposed that Lönnbacken Daycare’s operations be moved to the premises vacated by Esikko from 1 August 2026. The two daycare units are currently operating on the same site.
Esikko Daycare is also operating in modular units, but these are owned by the City of Vaasa.
Children from Esikko to join other daycares in the area
Both Esikko Daycare and Lönnbacken Daycare have two groups of children.
Children from Esikko Daycare will be offered ECEC places in other units according to their families’ preferences. There is space for all children from Esikko in other Finnish-language daycare units in the area.
The families affected will be contacted in January.
Even though Esikko Daycare will be closed, the number of Finnish-language ECEC places in the area will decrease by only one child group. The renovation of Alkula Daycare will be completed in autumn 2026, making one previously closed group available in its facilities.
Permanent staff from Esikko Daycare will be reassigned to other daycare units run by the City of Vaasa.