At the beginning of 2023, the Ministry of Family and Social Policy announced changes to the Maluch+ programme, under which new crèches and children's clubs are being created. The programme has a long-term character – it will last until 2029 – and PLN 5.5 billion from European Funds, the National Recovery Plan (NRP) and the state budget has been earmarked for the creation of care places in crèches, children's clubs and day care centres. As a result, approximately 102,000 new care places for the youngest children could be created.

A total of 2,256 applications were submitted in the first call, of which 1,008 by municipalities and 1,248 by other entities. The contracting stage with the voivodes is currently underway.

At the same time, more than PLN 1.2 billion was left in the pot for new care places. That is why the Ministry of Family and Social Policy decided at the beginning of July this year to launch a continuous call in the programme.

Second round of continuous call

During the first round, the results of which were announced on 3 October this year, 334 applications have been submitted. A second round of calls for proposals is currently underway. They can be submitted until 31 December 2023. There is still PLN 674.3 million to be taken up.

I am strongly encouraging all to apply for funding, especially municipalities where there have so far been no childcare facilities for the youngest children, says Minister of Family and Social Policy Marlena Maląg. Eliminating such white spots is a priority for our government, adds Minister Maląg.

According to data from the Ministry of the Family and Social Policy, so far, under the new edition of the Maluch+ programme, funding has been granted to 492 municipalities where, as at the date of the programme's announcement, no childcare institution for children up to the age of three was in operation. The total number of care places declared for creation in these municipalities is almost 12,500.

Maluch+ 2015-2023

Over the past eight years, the number of childcare places for children up to the age of three across the country has almost tripled from 84,000 in 2015 to 232,000 in 2023. Today, on average, one in three children up to the age of three is in crèche care, eight years ago it was one in nine.