Italian Regions Open Early Childhood Education Enrollment and Voucher Programs

The Municipality of Bari (Municipio I) has opened online applications for its Centre ludico for the 2026‑2027 school year. Families can apply until 12:00 CET on 31 August 2026 for children aged 3 to 36 months, including those with disabilities. The centre, located at the “Melo da Bari” school, will operate from 1 October 2026 to 30 June 2027. Assessor Michelangelo Cavone emphasized that investing in early childhood supports community welfare and gender equality.

In the neighbouring region of Puglia, the regional government issued a notice for educational vouchers for children aged 0‑3 years for the 2026‑2027 period. An online platform will accept applications until 12:00 CET on 28 August 2026. The programme is funded with €60 million and offers 13,788 places, an increase of 2,293 over the previous year. At least 80 % of slots are guaranteed, with priority given to families in economic fragility based on ISEE income bands. The vouchers can be combined with existing support such as the INPS Nursery Bonus.