Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, together with Minister of Family and Social Policy Marlena Maląg, presented the assumptions of the new Toddler+ programme. “We want every parent, even in the smallest municipality, when they decide to take up a professional challenge, to have no problem of finding a modern and friendly place where their child will be properly cared for. Now we are shifting into sixth gear definitely increasing the programme’s funding”, announced Minister Marlena Maląg.

So far, the Toddler+ programme has operated on an annual basis; now it will have a long-term character. Its budget under the new version is planned at PLN 5.5 billion. Thanks to this, the number of places for the youngest children will increase by an additional 102 thousand in the country. “Currently, there are 8,000 crèches and children’s clubs, with approx. 228 thousand care places for children under three. In 2015, there were less than 3,000 facilities, which offered places for just 84,000 children”, reports the Ministry of Family and Social Policy.

“We started by bringing back elementary social justice by strengthening the family with the Family 500+ programme. Then restoring dignity in the labour market and providing much more dignified wages”, said Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki.

The head of government stressed that the government’s programmes have first and foremost a social intention, and many of them: Family 500+, Good Start, Family Care Capital, subsidies for nursery stays, are new pro-family programmes launched in recent years already under his government.

The Toddler+ programme is aimed primarily at municipalities, and secondarily at other bodies creating care places for the youngest children. The money will be available not only for the reconstruction, renovation of the building or adaptation of rooms to the needs of children, but also for 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.

Adrian Andrzejewski