A new edition of the Maluch+ programme for the years 2022-2029 is being launched. Its budget amounts to PLN 5.5 billion. 102,000 new care spaces will be created under the new edition. Applications can be submitted until 19 February. A nursery in each municipality is the target.

‘We consistently support families in combining their working life with raising children. We have already spent PLN 227.1 billion for programmes such as Family 500+, Good Start, Family Care Capital and Co-financing of nursery care. But this is not all. We have introduced work from home to the Labour Code, created a bill on professional activity and the Council of Ministers have recently adopted the regulations implementing to EU directives including the Directive on parents’,

Minister of Family and Social Care Marlena Maląg said.

Announcement of a new edition of the Maluch+ programme

The Maluch+ programme is also an important part of supporting families in raising their children. More than 140,000 care spaces for the youngest children have been created since 2016. Less than 3,000 places existed at the end of 2015, offering only 84,000 care spaces. Today, more than 8,000 care institutions operate, offering nearly 230,000 childcare spaces.

‘The announcement of the new edition of the programme is like switching to the sixth gear in the development of services dedicated to families with young children. It is also the next step in the development of a truly family-friendly state policy’,

the Minister of Family pointed out.

‘I hope that the Maluch+ programme will be of great interest. We meet the expectations of Polish families. In order for parents to be able to return to working life, we want to create the conditions for them to give their children good care’,

Minister of Development Funds and Regional Policy Grzegorz Puda added.

PLN 5.5 billion for development of a care network for youngest children

The new version of the Maluch+ programme consists of one multi-annual programme, a uniform funding system and the same rules covering the whole of Poland. Nearly PLN 5.5 billion was assigned to the programme.

‘Thanks to these resources, thanks to the budget increase, more than 100,000 new childcare spaces for children under 3 can be created’,

Minister Marlena Maląg stressed.

The programme includes 3 sources of funding: the State Budget, resources from the National Recovery Plan (NRP) and from the European Funds for Social Development (EFSD) programme. Objectives related to the creation of new care spaces from NRP and/or EFSD resources and the operation of newly created spaces for 36 months are co-financed. Own contribution is not required under the Programme.

Allocation algorithm

Resources from the MALUCH+ 2022-2029 programme are primarily intended for municipalities. Each municipality has guaranteed resources for the creation of care spaces in new or existing institutions and resources to co-finance the operation of created spaces for 36 months.

If a municipality submits an application for the amount of funds allocated according to the algorithm it means that it would like to benefit from the designated funding amount. Important! Each municipality can include its demand in the application, including a greater amount of funds for a greater number of spaces to be created.

‘Our main goal is to change the Maluch+ programme in such a way that all barriers that have so far made it difficult for local authorities to realise such investments, to build nurseries, that these barriers are consistently eliminated’,

Deputy Minister Barbara Socha said.

Entities other than local government units

If municipalities do not apply for the resources the algorithm allocates to them it will be possible to distribute the unused money to local authorities, public institutions, natural persons, legal persons and organisational entities without legal personality. However, the principle of priority for municipalities to receive funds will always be maintained.

A municipality has 3 years to make an investment. It provides for a greater flexibility in the task completion. Other entities will only have 2 years to do it.

Funding amount

Amounts of funding under the National Recovery Plan for the creation of new childcare spaces in two types of institutions, i.e. nurseries and children’s clubs respectively (for the creation of a single space):

• For local government units:  up to PLN 35,862 (without VAT)
• Other entities: PLN 12,410 (including VAT)

In the case of funds from the European Funds for Social Development, the subsidy for the creation of new care spaces in three types of institutions: nurseries, children's clubs and day carers (for the creation of 1 care space) amounts to PLN 12,410 regardless of the sector.

The amount of the subsidy for the operation of one space created under the NRP and EFSD for 12 and 24 months amounts to approximately PLN 837 monthly.

‘The Maluch Plus programme for which we will spend more than 1 billion euros combines the national subsidy with resources under the European Social Fund Plus and the National Recovery Plan. It is a comprehensive programme. The Programme now has common rules and a simplified form to apply for the resources’,

Minister of Development Funds and Regional Policy Grzegorz Puda said.

How to apply

An application can only be made electronically by 19 February 2023 via Module 2 of the Nurseries Register system and the Emp@tia, Information and Service Portal depending on the entity type.

Important deadlines!

Time to submit applications: until 19 February 2023. The Voivodship Offices will then have until 17 March to assess the applications. The Minister of Family and Social Policy will announce the results by 28 April 2023.