Poland Immigrant Info

Kindergarten and Childcare in Poland

Żłobek, przedszkole, fees, subsidies, and how to enrol a young child as a working parent.

Updated 2026-01-20 · 1 min read

Kindergarten and Childcare in Poland
On this page
  1. Two stages
  2. Costs
  3. Subsidies (2026)
  4. Enrolling
  5. Tips

Two stages

  • Żłobek (nursery) — ages ~1–3; not compulsory.
  • Przedszkole (kindergarten) — ages 3–6; the last year (zerówka) is compulsory preparation for school.

Costs

  • Public przedszkole: 5 hours/day free; extra hours + meals cost ~200–600 PLN/month.
  • Private przedszkole: 1000–2500 PLN/month.
  • Public żłobek: subsidised, scarce places.
  • Private żłobek: 1500–2500 PLN/month.

Subsidies (2026)

  • Aktywny Rodzic / Aktywnie w żłobku — a per-child monthly subsidy toward żłobek fees; check current amount and eligibility on gov.pl.
  • Employer childcare contributions may apply.

Enrolling

  • Public: register at the city's kindergarten system (e.g., Warsaw's System Rekrutacji); apply in spring for the autumn start.
  • Private: contact directly; year-round admission if space.

Tips

  • Register early — public places fill fast.
  • Foreign children are accepted; some kindergartens offer language support.

FAQ

Is kindergarten free?
Public kindergarten (przedszkole) is free for 5 hours/day for children aged 3–6. Extra hours, meals, and private kindergartens charge fees.
What is żłobek?
A nursery for children under 3. Public places are scarce; private żłobki charge 1000–2500 PLN/month. A government subsidy (Aktywny Rodzic) helps.

Sources

  1. gov.pl — Nurseries and kindergartens (Ministry of Family) (updated 2026-01-12)

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