69.3% of children participated in formal programmes

In 2022, almost 70% of children between 3 years old and the mandatory school age in the European Union participated in formal care or education programmes for at least 25 hours per week. These findings are the result of a recent study, which reveals that despite progress, there are still significant differences in children's access to these services according to their risk of poverty and social exclusion.

According to the data, 12.4% of children in the same age group did not participate in formal care at all and 18.2% participated for less than 24 hours a week. However, children at risk of poverty and social exclusion showed lower rates of participation in these programmes. Only 58.5% were involved in formal care or education for at least 25 hours per week.

The situation becomes even clearer when compared to children who are not in this risk category, where 72.7% received such services. Also, 18.8% of children at risk of poverty and social exclusion did not participate in formal care at all, compared to 10.5% of those not at risk. Another aspect revealed is that 22.6% of children at risk participated in formal care for less than 24 hours per week, compared to 16.9% of those not at risk.

These findings highlight the need to address inequalities in access to care and education among children, ensuring that all young children have the chance to benefit from these essential opportunities for their development.