2022
New edition of the Toddler+ programme
30 November 2022
The Minister for Family and Social Policy has presented the assumptions of the new edition of the Maluch+ programme. Under the programme, crèches and kids clubs are being set up, refurbished or equipped, and places in day-care are being created.
So far, the Toddler+ programme has operated on an annual basis; now it will have a long-term character. Its budget in the new edition is planned at PLN 5.5 billion. This will increase the number of places for the youngest children by additional 102,000 places. Currently, there are 8,000 crèches and children's clubs, with approx. 228,000 childcare places for children under the age of three. In 2015, there were fewer than 3 000 facilities, which offered places for just 84 000 children.
The programme is primarily aimed at municipalities and secondarily at other entities creating childcare places for the youngest children. It makes it possible not only to activate parents professionally, but also to increase employment.
In the new edition of the programme, municipalities will have three years to implement the task from the announcement of the grant award. The funds will be spent not only on reconstruction, renovation of the building or adaptation of the rooms to the needs of children, but also on the purchase or installation of equipment. Local authorities will receive up to PLN 837 per month for three years to subsidise the operation of an already established place for the youngest children.
The government has adopted the "Demographic Strategy 2040".
15 November 2022
The Council of Ministers adopted on 15 November 2022. "Demographic Strategy 2040", the main goal of which is to escape the low fertility trap and come closer to a birth level that guarantees the replacement of generations. The document emphasises that in order to enable Poles to realise their plans to have children, it is necessary to take action in specific areas.
Strengthening the family through, among other things, financial security and support in meeting housing needs were listed among them. Removal of barriers for those wishing to have children, e.g. through the development of a family-friendly labour market, development of health care, improvement of the quality and organisation of education, and development of childcare facilities are also included together with improving the quality of management and implementation of policies at central and local government level.
In the materials made available on the Chancellery of the Prime Minister's website, the Demographic Strategy 2040 is described as a comprehensive document which aims to reverse unfavourable trends in Polish demography.
Subsidising provision for children below 3. PLN 95 million has already been allocated to ECEC settings
9 June 2022
Another new support instrument for families with young children - in addition to the Family Care Capital - is a subsidy for the child's stay at a crèche, children's club or day-care provider - up to PLN 400 per month. It applies to those children who do not qualify for the Family Care Capital because, for example, they do not meet the age criterion.
Lower fees for a child's stay in, for example, a day-care centre, means in practice more affordable care and easing the burden on household budgets. To date, more than PLN 95 million for 78,500 children has already been directed to care institutions as part of subsidising the stay of children in a crèche, a children's club or with a day carer.
Applications for this additional funding, can only be submitted electronically.
Family Care Capital
January 2022
The Family Care Capital is a new benefit for parents to receive for the second and subsequent child in a family. The benefit is payable from the month in which that child turns 12 months old until the end of the month in which the child turns 35 months old. The maximum capital entitlement is as much as PLN 12,000 per child.
Family care capital is an additional support instrument to facilitate the combination of parenthood and work.
The family care capital came into effect on 1 January 2022.
Family care capital is available in the amount of PLN 500 or PLN 1,000 per month. The parents themselves can indicate whether they want to receive the capital in the amount of PLN 500 for 24 months or in the amount of PLN 1,000 for 12 months.
The benefit is available regardless of family income.
Changes in childcare for children under 3 years
- The provisions of the Family Care Capital Act also provide for amendments to the Childcare Act for children up to the age of three, which will, among other things, introduce a subsidy for stays in a crèche, a children's club or with a day-care provider for children not covered by the Family Care Capital.
- The subsidy will be available - upon request - to parents, legal guardians and other persons entrusted by the court with the care of the child. It will be linked to the stay of a child not covered by the Family Care Capital in a childcare institution for children up to the age of three and will result in a reduction of the monthly fee paid for the stay (excluding meals, but taking into account discounts provided by the institution supervising the ECEC setting).
Subsidies will be available:
- for the first and only child in a family,
- for the first child in families where another child is covered by the family care capital,
- for a child before the age of 12 months and after the age of 35 months.
The subsidy will amount to a maximum of PLN 400 per month per child in a crèche, children's club or day-care centre, but no more than the fee paid by parents for the stay of their children in the crèche, children's club or day-care centre.
It is estimated that around 110,000 children will be covered by this support.
2021
Piloting the standards for organising early childhood development support and family support
26 October 2021
Maria Grzegorzewska Academy of Special Education, within the framework of cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Science, starts piloting the standards within the scope of organizing early support services for child development and family support.
Within the framework of an agreement with the Ministry of Education and Science, a team of specialists in early support of child development at the APS has developed standards for the organisation of early support of child development and family support, which will undergo practical verification and evaluation by persons and entities involved in the implementation of early support of child development in districts.
The invitation to participate in the pilot project is directed to districts and public psychological-educational counselling centres that provide early support for child development or the tasks of a leading coordination and rehabilitation centre.
Care in nurseries (ECEC for children aged 0 to 3) has been suspended
8 April 2021
A regulation has been published which suspends all care activities in nurseries, children clubs and by day carers up to 18 April 2021. Care to children of medical workers and security forces will be still provided.
Classes in pre-school institutions have been suspended up to 11 April (prolonged to 18 April)
26 March 2021
In class activities in all types of pre-school institutions have been suspended up to the 11 April (later prolonged to 18 April). Classes will be conducted with the use of online methods or any other methods recommended by the heads of institutions. Exceptions are offered to children with special education statements and to children of medical staff involved in direct prevention and combating of Covid-19 pandemic.
The results of "MALUCH+" (Toddler+) 2021 competition
Reform status: programme, January 2021
Nearly 19 thousand care places for children under 3 years of age will be created in 2021 by entities other than local government units thanks to "MALUCH+" (Toddler+) 2021 programme. The beneficiaries of the programme will receive funding for the current operation of places for about 112.7 thousand children, including 1.15 thousand children with disabilities or requiring special care
The Ministry of Family and Social Policy has allocated up to PLN 450 million for the "MALUCH+" 2021 edition.
The average monthly subsidy per 1 care place is PLN 80 and in the case of places for disabled children or children requiring special care - PLN 500, however in modules 3 and 4 for reducing parents' fees, the amount of subsidy granted may not be higher than the fees the parents pay for the child's stay in the institution, taking into account the available reductions.
2020
Guidelines of the State Sanitary Inspectorate (SSI) for headteachers of kindergartens
Reform status: approved, 26th of August 2020
Organisation of care in ECEC settings:
- A group of children along with a nursery practitioner should be located in a designated and permanently assigned room.
- If possible, it is recommended that the same nursery practitioner should be assigned to the same group of children.
- The surface area of each room intended for the collective accommodation of 3 to 5 children shall, where possible, be at least 15m2; wherever the number of children exceeds 5, the surface area of the room intended for collective accommodation of children shall be increased by at least 2m2 for each additional child, however, the stipulated area per child shall not be less than 1.5m2.
Detailed guidelines (in Polish).
Up to 25 children in a kindergarten group - updated guidelines of the Chief Sanitary Inspector
03 July 2020
On July 2th, the Chief Sanitary Inspector signed the updated guidelines for kindergartens, preschool forms and care institutions for children under the age of three. The main changes concern increasing the size of a kindergarten group to 25 children.
In addition, the guidelines concerning:
- minimum space required for a group;
- bringing toys to the kindergarten;
- organisation of the work of a group, including e.g. gathering in one room children coming to the kindergarten or waiting to be picked up by their parents, have been relaxed. Parents are allowed to be present in the kindergarten during their child's adaptation period.
Current guidelines of the Chief Sanitary Inspector are available on the link (in Polish).