More children under care

Around 9.2% of children under the age of 3 are covered by care. Around 3.4 thousand facilities which provide about 93.5 thousand places of care for the youngest are operating in Poland.

The number of childcare institutions is growing. Almost 9.2% of children under the age of 3 are covered by institutional care or care of a nanny. In 2010, before the entry into force of the Act on care for children under the age of 3, this was just under 2.6%.

Around 3.4 thousand facilities – day nurseries, children's clubs, day carers – are operating in Poland. That is about 93.5 thousand places of care for the youngest, including 82.8 thousand places in day nurseries. Almost 65% of all care institutions are nurseries, which provide 88.6% of total places.

Despite the systematic increase in the number of institutions and places for children, further efforts are needed to increase the availability of care facilities. Maintaining high standards of care, financial availability, i.e. lower charges for parents, and territorial availability need to be increased, ensuring equal access in different parts of Poland and in urban and rural areas.

Funds for the creation and operation of places caring for children under the age of 3 may come from the state budget, under the programme of development of institutions of care for children under the age of 3 “Toddler plus” 2017 or from the European Union funds.