As a result, two new preschools were opened—in Kraśnik Dolny and Kruszyn—and an additional group of children was organized at the Preschool in Bożejowice.
Each facility created 15 new places for children in the 3–4 age group. Throughout the school year, all the preschools provided care for the children on working days from 6:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (including school-break periods), along with full meals. The children also took part in additional activities led by qualified staff. These included English lessons, speech therapy, and general-development activities incorporating corrective gymnastics (Bożejowice and Kraśnik) or corrective-compensatory exercises (Kruszyn). In the second half of the year, savings made it possible to introduce additional theatre activities and hippotherapy (Kruszyn and Bożejowice), as well as rhythm-and-music activities (Kraśnik Dolny). The children went on trips, to the cinema, and to activities at the Bolesławiec “Oli” Playroom. At the Preschool in Kraśnik Dolny, Children’s Day was also organized, featuring inflatable attractions, soap-bubble shows, gifts, and refreshments.
All these activities were available to the children completely free of charge thanks to funding from the European Union. The facility in Kruszyn was established under the project “Preschool in Kruszyn Close to Children and Family,” the facility in Kraśnik Dolny under the project “Joyful Preschool,” and the new group in Bożejowice under the project “My Preschool, My Opportunity for the Future.”
As activities promoting preschool education, the projects are co-financed by the European Union under the European Social Fund (Priority IX: Development of Education and Competences in the Regions; Measure 9.1: Equalizing Educational Opportunities and Providing High-Quality Educational Services within the Education System; Sub-measure 9.1.1: Reducing Inequalities in the Extent to Which Preschool Education Is Widespread).
The funds obtained made it possible not only to operate the facilities throughout the school year, but also to adapt existing rooms for preschool use and equip them by purchasing furniture, equipment, toys, teaching aids, and educational materials. In the second half of the year, savings from earlier activities were used to supplement the equipment at all facilities with toys, teaching aids, and materials for conducting individual activities. Although the projects financing the operation of the new preschools end on June 30, 2015, the facilities equipped through them will serve the municipality’s residents and their children for many years to come.
Tadeusz Orawiec
