Expansion of the Educational and Care Services for Children Aged Three to Six Years

Expansion of the Early Childhood Education and Care Offerings for Three- to Six-Year-Olds supports Upper Austrian providers in creating additional age-appropriate care places for three- to six-year-olds. The focus is on investment costs for extension buildings as well as spatial quality improvements in kindergartens. Measures to achieve VIF-compliant opening hours and to establish full accessibility are funded. This grant initiative contributes to realizing modern learning and care environments that meet the needs of children and promote the comprehensive expansion of early childhood education offerings. The program runs until August 31, 2027, and is aimed at all kindergartens operated under the Upper Austrian Childcare Act.

Eligible applicants are interest groups, other associations, private individuals, and companies as private legal entities or company kindergartens in Upper Austria. A prerequisite is co-financing by the State of Upper Austria and/or the private applicant. Eligible costs include, in particular, construction costs for additional care places, expenses for VIF-compliant opening hours, costs for barrier-free access, as well as investments in pedagogically designed rooms. For the application, planning documents with a detailed cost estimate must be submitted before the start of the measures; upon completion of the construction work, a final accounting with a total cost statement must be provided. Submission must always take place before the start of construction measures to ensure timely consideration until the end of the program. Interested legal entities can obtain information from the Upper Austrian State Government, Directorate for Culture and Society – Department of Society.