Enrolment to preschool and grade 1 for 2026/2027: who, when and on what rules

Which children start school in September 2026

Under the Education Law (Prawo oświatowe), compulsory schooling begins at the start of the school year in the calendar year in which a child turns 7. In September 2026 grade 1 will therefore be for children born in 2019.

A child born in 2020 (turning 6 in 2026) may start a year earlier at the parents' request — if they attended preschool the previous year or have a positive opinion from a psychological-educational counselling centre. Otherwise they complete the compulsory year of preschool preparation (the so-called zerówka). Parents of a 7-year-old can also apply to postpone compulsory schooling by a year — the application goes to the catchment school by 31 August.

The catchment school: registration is enough

A child living in the catchment area (obwód) of a public primary school is admitted to grade 1 on the basis of the parents' registration (zgłoszenie) — no points and no competition. The catchment area is assigned by the municipality; check it at the municipal office or on the school's website.

Children from outside the catchment can be admitted if the school has free places, through a recruitment procedure based on criteria set by the municipality.

Preschool: two-stage recruitment

Preschool education covers children from the school year in which they turn 3. Public preschools admit children living in the municipality. When there are more applicants than places, the statutory criteria count first, all of equal value:

• a large family (three or more children),
• disability of the child, of one or both parents, or of a sibling,
• single parenthood,
• the child being in foster care.

The second stage and municipal criteria

If there are still ties or free places after the first stage, criteria set by the municipality (up to six) apply, such as both parents working or a sibling attending the same preschool. The municipality may also consider income per family member — confirmed by a declaration. Each criterion requires a document or declaration attached to the application.

Children already attending a preschool usually do not go through recruitment — parents submit a declaration to continue preschool education by the date set by the preschool.

Dates and practical tips

The dates for preschool and grade 1 recruitment are set by the end of January by the governing body — usually the municipality. That is why they differ from city to city, mostly falling in February–March.

For example, in the Brańsk municipality applications for preschools and grade 1 are accepted from 2 to 13 March 2026, qualified lists appear on 27 March, parents confirm by 17 April and admission lists are published on 24 April. A supplementary round for remaining places is planned for May.

• Check the municipality's website for the schedule and the online enrolment system — big cities take applications online.
• List several institutions in order of preference; a single choice lowers your chances.
• Prepare documents confirming the criteria before enrolment opens.
• After the qualified lists are published, confirm your intention to enrol by the deadline — otherwise the place is lost.
• If your child is not admitted, you can request a justification and appeal; the municipality must also indicate a place for a child entitled to preschool education.