Active Toddler – a chance for development for children and their parents

The “Active Toddler” program is a government initiative that will contribute to increasing access to care for the youngest children in facilities such as nurseries and children's clubs and with day care providers. The program is multi-annual. For the years 2022-2029, a budget of nearly PLN 6.5 billion has been allocated for this purpose. It consists of funds from the state budget, the National Recovery and Resilience Plan and funds from the European Social Fund Plus in the European Funds for Social Development program. It is a continuation of the “Toddler+” program.

The aim of the programme is to create and maintain over 102,000 new care places for children up to 3 years of age and to maintain them for a total period of 36 months.

Municipalities that needed to develop care facilities for children up to 3 years of age due to unmet needs of the local community could apply for funding from the “Active Toddler” program. Applications could also be submitted by other entities that, in accordance with the Act on the Care of Children up to 3 Years of Age, can create and run care facilities for the youngest children.

Funds from the European Funds for Social Development programme can be used to create new care places in nurseries and children's clubs, as well as with day care providers. In turn, funds from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan can only be used to create new care places in nurseries and children's clubs. In both cases, the funds can be used to create places for children with disabilities or requiring special care. The awarded funding can be used, among other things, for adaptations of facilities, purchase and installation of equipment or purchase of aids for conducting care and educational activities. The funds will also enable the purchase of specialist equipment and tools to identify the developmental and educational needs of the charges, support the development or conduct therapy for children with special needs.

The European Funds for Social Development will also co-finance the operating costs of newly created care places from FERS and KPO for a total of 36 months.

Parents will primarily benefit from the development and increased availability of childcare facilities. They will be able to return to work and develop professionally and personally.

– I dream of a nursery or other care facility close to where I live. I am on maternity leave. In a year I would like to return to work, and my family is in another city, so my husband and I are without support. A nursery would give us complete freedom in developing our careers – says Mrs. Agata, mother of 10-month-old Liliana.

Greater access to care facilities also benefits children, who gain the opportunity to spend time with their peers. This allows them to acquire social skills, learn independence, and develop emotionally. Children are supported by qualified staff and appropriate equipment in facilities.

– When a nursery subsidized by the program opened in our area and our son got in, it was a huge change for us. For us and for him. Very nice and professional caregivers, great equipment and an interesting range of activities for toddlers make the children develop – comments Mr. Marcin, father of 1.5-year-old Wojtek.

The “Active Toddler” program is also a benefit for municipalities. New nurseries, children's clubs or the organization of care places by day carers mean new jobs for the local community.

Detailed information about the Program can be found at: https://www.gov.pl/web/rodzina/maluch-2022-2029

Funding for the “Active Toddler” program comes largely from the European Social Fund Plus in the European Funds for Social Development (FERS) program. Projects co-financed by FERS aim to improve the situation of people on the labor market, increase accessibility for people with special needs, provide childcare, improve the quality of education and develop skills, social integration, develop social services and the social economy, and health care.