Hundreds of incidents reveal rising violence against Tampere daycare staff

Files from 2024–2025 reviewed by YLE reveal a sharp rise in violence directed at early childhood educators in Tampere's daycares and preschool groups. They document everything from kicks and scratches to objects being thrown, and include a reported broken rib.

Staff describe lasting physical and psychological effects: bruises, numbness and fear about going to work. One long-serving caregiver, identified only as Eeva to protect children’s privacy, says episodes have occasionally required police or ambulance calls, though YLE could not confirm those interventions with police.

The trend appears widespread. The teachers' union OAJ found one in three respondents had faced violence at work, and occupational safety representative Petri Vuorio says local incident numbers have risen several-fold. Experts point to understaffing, large group sizes and a high sensory load for children with special needs.

Staff recommend more personnel, smaller groups and dedicated calming rooms for children needing intensive support. The reports come as violence and threats affecting local services have risen since Tampere lost a dedicated violence-prevention specialist earlier this year, and follow earlier YLE reporting that parents at a Tampere Steiner school said the school had downplayed years of bullying and physical violence prompting police complaints.