Originally known as Maluch+, the programme was announced in early 2023. Its aim is to create new crèches and children's clubs as well as day-care places. The programme is multi-year in nature - it will last until 2029 - and PLN 5.5 billion has been earmarked for the creation and operation of care places in crèches, children's clubs and day-care centres from the European Funds for Social Development (FERS) programme, the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) and the state budget. It is expected that thanks to this budget, the programme will create around 102,000 new childcare places for toddlers.

New version of the programme and more funds for new crèches

Despite an attractive budget, extended time for the task of creating and 3-year support for the operation of childcare places, the programme needed to be adjusted to the principles it contained. As a result of numerous consultations, listening to the signals of local governments and private entities, today we present a new shape of the Programme for the development of childcare institutions for children up to the age of 3.

We count the Aktywny Maluch 2022-2029 programme as part of a new comprehensive concept to support parents with young children. It complements the already announced Aktywny Rodzic (Active Parent) programme.

The new programme changed not only the name, but also the amount of the allocation - now, after a positive revision of the NRRP, the Programme budget amounts to nearly PLN 6.5 billion. The amount of funding for the creation of care places for local government units has also been increased, to PLN 57 528 excluding VAT per one care place.

The 4th call for proposals will continue until the end of June.

It will be possible to apply under the continuous call for proposals for the Aktywny Maluch programme until 2025, it means until all funds will be exhausted, or the indicators specified in the programme will be reached.

The application takes place in successive rounds - the 4th one has just started and will last until the end of June this year, with the outcome to be known at the end of July this year.

A total of PLN 907,611,783.56 remains to be distributed for the creation and operation of new care places (combined NRRP and FERS funds).

From the 4th round of the call for proposals, an entity intending to participate in the programme can apply for funding for the planned investment in the creation of new care places - i.e. these places can be entered in the register/list at the earliest on the day on which the Minister announces the results for the respective round of calls.

The new unit amount of NRRP funds for municipalities has been taken into account in the reopened call for proposals.

Important information for municipalities that have already received funding

Municipalities that have been awarded funding for the creation of care places from the NRRP based on a funding amount of PLN 35,862 excluding VAT as part of the settlement of calls announced since 19 January 2023 may apply for an increase in funding. The application for these funds will take place outside the Register of Crèches system. From 6 May this year, municipalities will be able to submit their requests to the relevant voivodes.

As part of the modifications made to the Programme, e.g., the description of the operation funding task, the timing of the submission of documentation, the length of the validity period and the level of the occupancy rate of care places during this period, the removal of the requirement for District Education Centre to display a national plaque announcing participation in the Programme, have been changed.

For more information on the individual changes and the exact conditions for applying for funds from the programme, see Aktywny Maluch (https://www.gov.pl/web/rodzina/maluch-2022-2029)

Let us eliminate the white spots

Childcare facilities for children up to the age of three are available in 1,421 municipalities, or 57 % of municipalities. The rest are so-called 'white spots' - municipalities without the above-mentioned institutions. Currently, the number of contracted places under the programme is 42,831.

We encourage all municipalities to apply for funding, especially those which previously had no childcare facilities for their youngest children.