A new Helsinki city study reveals daycare center size has minimal effect on early education quality. The research compared 37 different early education units across Finland's capital.
City council members reviewed the comparison of differently sized daycare centers on Wednesday. The study found no meaningful connection between facility size and educational quality.
Small differences appeared in staff turnover rates and unit costs. But these variations were minor compared to other factors.
Council members called the report useful for decision-making. They emphasized the importance of daycare proximity to families' homes.
The debate began when councilor Atte Harjanne proposed comparing quality across different daycare sizes. His initiative prompted the city's comprehensive review.
Researchers evaluated staff turnover, substitute availability, sick leave patterns, customer satisfaction, and unit costs. They used 2024 data from 37 early education units.
In Helsinki, 70% of daycare centers serve up to 100 children. About 26% accommodate 100-200 children, while just 3% have over 200 spots.
The most notable differences appeared in staff turnover and costs. Centers with 100-150 children showed the highest staff turnover rates.
Workplace culture, management quality, and adequate resources affected turnover more than center size did.
Personnel costs ran slightly higher in the largest centers. Facilities with over 200 children needed more management structure. The difference amounted to about €170 per child annually.
Rental costs depended more on facility condition than size. Playground dimensions varied across all unit types.
Council members appreciated the study's decision-making support despite some data variations.
Harjanne stressed the value of neighborhood daycares. Many councilors expressed more concern about staff working conditions and availability than facility size.
They worried that consolidating daycares creates longer commutes for families.
Left Alliance representative Minja Koskela supported a moderate approach. She said there's no clear ideal size for daycare centers.
Social Democratic Party member Hilkka Ahde acknowledged past construction mistakes. She noted instances where children must move between buildings throughout the day.
Her party colleagues want children to have more opportunities to evaluate their care experiences.
The findings challenge assumptions that larger daycares automatically provide inferior care. Helsinki's data suggests management quality and resources matter more than facility size alone.