Polish parents call for free summer school day‑care to ease childcare costs

Parents in Poland are urging the government to open public school facilities for affordable summer day‑care. They point out that school buildings sit empty for more than sixty days each year while private summer programs charge thousands of złoty, forcing families to dip into savings. Marta from Poznań writes that without state‑run day‑care, “our only summer attractions are ice cream and a playground under the block,” and she calls for rotating, low‑cost centres that provide meals and safe supervision until 6 p.m.

The proposal argues that modest fees for meals and materials would be far cheaper than commercial camps and would allow parents to work without constant interruptions from childcare needs. Advocates claim such a service would relieve financial pressure on young families and reduce reliance on grandparents.

The campaign highlights the disparity between public infrastructure that remains unused in summer and the high price of private childcare alternatives, urging policymakers to organise municipal day‑care programmes as a social support measure.