School Day-Care (Świetlica) in Poland: Who Qualifies and Hours
Short answer: Under Article 105 of the Education Law, a primary school must provide świetlica day-care for pupils who stay longer because of parents' working hours (on request) or transport; the head teacher sets hours and forms.
Many parents in Poland rely on the school day-care room, the świetlica szkolna, to cover the hours between the end of lessons and the end of the working day. This guide explains what the Education Law (Prawo oświatowe) says about it. The source is the consolidated text of the act announced in Dziennik Ustaw 2026 item 820, dated 22 June 2026, and the articles discussed are 105, 106 and 106a.
Who has the right to a place
Under Article 105(1), a primary school must provide day-care activities for pupils who stay at school longer for one of two reasons. The first is the parents' working hours, in which case the place is provided on the parents' request. The second is the organisation of the journey to school or other circumstances that require care at school, and the law leaves it to the school to judge which circumstances count.
The same duty applies to special schools mentioned in Article 127(1). The text says "must provide", so for a pupil who meets one of these conditions the school cannot treat the świetlica as an optional extra. The wording of the article does not name a minimum number of hours or an age limit inside primary school, and it does not add conditions based on citizenship or the parents' residence status. If a school asks for more than that, ask what rule it relies on.
What happens in the świetlica
Article 105(2) says the activities should reflect the pupils' educational needs, in particular those that come from the core curriculum, as well as their developmental needs and physical and mental abilities. The law gives two examples: activities that develop pupils' interests and activities that support healthy physical development. So the świetlica is not only a waiting room, and a child can do homework, play outdoors or take part in clubs there depending on how the school organises it.
Kindergarten children in small schools
Article 105(3) adds a special rule. A primary school with no more than 70 pupils may provide day-care activities for children in a kindergarten class organised in that school, again because of parents' working time on their request or because of transport and other circumstances. These activities must take into account the children's development and abilities.
Hours and application forms
The law leaves the practical details to the head teacher. Under Article 105(5), the head sets the opening hours of the świetlica on each day of the week, based on the parents' applications. Under Article 105(6), the head also decides the application forms and the deadlines for submitting them, and must tell parents about both. In practice, this means each school has its own application form and its own date. If you are enrolling a child in the middle of the year, ask the school office whether it accepts applications at other times. The act does not say.
Meals
Meals are covered by separate articles. Article 106 allows a school to run a canteen, and eating there is paid. The head sets the conditions and the price in agreement with the body that runs the school, and the price does not include staff wages or running costs of the canteen. The school's owner can waive all or part of the fee for a family in an especially difficult financial situation or in special individual circumstances (for example, a sudden event).
Article 106a requires a primary school to give pupils one hot meal a day and a chance to eat it during their stay. For pupils who use the świetlica, the school may also provide an afternoon snack. Using the meals is voluntary and paid, according to the act.
What the law does not say
The provisions above do not set a fee for the świetlica itself, and they do not set a national opening time. Both depend on the school and its owner, usually the city or municipality. Check the school's regulations, which are normally published on its website, and ask the school directly about any charges. Do not assume that the rules of one school apply in another.
Practical steps for parents
Fill in the application form before the deadline the school announces. State clearly why the child needs care at school, whether because of work hours or the school bus. If your employer can confirm your working hours, keep that document, since the act ties the working-time ground to the parents' request. If the school refuses a place, ask for the reason in writing, and ask the head teacher or the body that runs the school to review it.
* Photos: a school building (Górnickiego school) and a school canteen in Tomaszów Mazowiecki, Wikimedia Commons, public domain. Illustrative.
Frequently asked questions
Does my child have a right to a świetlica place in primary school?
Article 105(1) of the Education Law says a primary school must provide day-care activities for pupils who stay longer because of parents' working hours (on the parents' request) or because of transport or other circumstances that require care.
Who decides the opening hours of the świetlica?
The head teacher sets them for each weekday based on the parents' applications, and also decides the application forms and deadlines, per Article 105(5) and (6).
Is the school lunch part of the świetlica?
No, it is a separate service. Under Articles 106 and 106a, primary schools must offer one hot meal a day, which is voluntary and paid, and may offer an afternoon snack to pupils who use the świetlica.
