Early Childhood Education Teacher

Lets combine the worlds best educational practices with your expertise and embark on this exciting adventure together! The City of Helsinki offers a full-time permanent contract for an Early Childhood Education Teacher to work at Swedish-speaking public early childhood education centres located in the major Helsinki city districts. The daycare centers are open between 6:15 and 17:30 and the shifts are arranged according to the needs of the families. A typical shift is 7 hours and 40 minutes long. Helsinki Early Childhood Education system consists of approximately 300 Finnish-speaking and 50 Swedish-speaking units. Currently there are about 6,000 employees engaged in public early childhood education in Helsinki. As an Early Childhood Education Teacher in Finland, you support the holistic development of children aged 0-6 in an inclusive, child-centered environment. Working closely with your team, you share responsibility for children's learning, safety, and well-being. You plan and implement pedagogical activities based on each child's needs, encourage exploration, and promote independence and confidence in daily routines. Your main responsibilities include: - Planning, implementing, and assessing activities based on children's individual development plans - Collaborating with colleagues, families, and multidisciplinary partners - Guiding daily activities in line with Helsinki's ECEC curriculum and your units operational plan - Observing, documenting, and evaluating children's progress and updating plans accordingly - Promoting open communication and active involvement of children and families ECEC in Finland is part of the national education system and is based on an integrated approach to care, education and teaching, the so-called "educare" model, with particular emphasis on full day pedagogy, play-based learning, inclusivity, positive pedagogy, and child participation in all daily activities. Read more about ECEC in Finland from the Finnish National Agency's of Education pages (the link is below). Qualification, language, and other requirements We are looking for a proactive and adaptable team player with strong interpersonal skills. You are eager to grow professionally, open to new ideas, and ready to contribute creatively. Flexibility, initiative, and a commitment to learning the Swedish language are essential for a smooth transition and effective communication. A positive, resilient attitude and a passion for early childhood education will make you a valuable addition to our team. - The applicant must have a residence and work permit in the European Union. - The applicant must have at least a Bachelors degree in Early Childhood Education. The employer provides assistance with the degree recognition with the Finnish educational authorities (read more about the procedure and ECE degrees following the link below). - The applicant must provide an extract from the criminal record as referred to in section 6 (2) of the Criminal Records Act of Finland when the work involves raising, teaching, care or other caretaking of a minor or other work in personal contact with the minor in the absence of a guardian (we will guide you on how to apply later, as the language training starts). - The applicant must provide proof of not having respiratory tuberculosis (later, as the language training starts). Applicants are not required to know the Swedish language at the time of their job application The language training will be conducted remotely and can be completed alongside your current work, starting from January 2026. Attendance and active participation in the training is mandatory. Applicants should have a genuine interest in relocating to Finland. The language training provided before moving includes comprehensive information about Finland and Finnish society to make the settling in the new surrounding as smooth as possible. The recruited teachers are guided and assisted throughout the whole relocation process, from obtaining necessary certificates and permits to finding housing in Helsinki and registering with public authorities, such as the Digital Population Data Services Agency and the Tax Office. Relocation support is provided also for the family members.