All children in Estonia have the right to obtain high-quality early childhood education and care (ECEC). Local governments are obliged to provide all children aged from 1.5 to 3 years permanently residing in their catchment area with the opportunity to attend childcare and children aged 3 to 7 years the opportunity to attend preschool if the parents so wish. 

Estonian ECEC institutions (childcare facilities and kindergartens) offer integrated programmes that include education and childcare services at ISCED levels 010‒020. Early childhood education is based on the national curriculum and is under the administration of the Ministry of Education and Research.

Attending a ECEC institution is not obligatory. However, the majority (89%) of the children aged 3 to 7 participate in ECEC (Statistics Estonia 2024). 

In both preschools and childcare service, parents cover the enrolment fee and the cost of meals. The fee differs by the age of the child and depends on the administration costs of the institution and other aspects, but it may not amount to more than 20% of the minimum wage rate.