Nursery in Saska Kępa — from age one, what to know | Blog

The decision to send a 1- or 2-year-old child to nursery is one of the harder parenting choices. The same questions keep returning: „Is the child too young? Will they manage without me? Will I choose the right place?”. At our nursery in Saska Kępa we’ve been caring for children since 2009 — and this article was written from the answers we most often give parents on their first tour.

From what age can a child join

At Siedmiu Krasnoludków we accept children from age 1 (12 months). It’s the lower threshold at which a child typically:

Sits independently, crawls or starts walking
Drinks from a cup (with a spout or straw)
Tries to feed themselves (fingers, spoon)
Reacts to people outside the immediate family

Most children join us aged 14-20 months — the typical moment when the mother returns to work after a full year of maternity leave and a short holiday. But we also accept younger children (when a parent decides to shorten leave) and significantly older (up to age 3 — the upper nursery age limit).

Aktywnie w żłobku subsidy — what you actually pay

Parents of children aged 1-3 using a nursery, children’s club, or registered day-care provider can use the Aktywnie w żłobku programme (PLN 1,500/month subsidy). The application goes through ZUS. We operate as a day-care provider in the City of Warsaw register — meeting the subsidy requirement.

In practice, at our nursery:

Base tuition: 2200 PLN/month
Aktywnie w żłobku subsidy: −1500 PLN/month
Your actual cost: 700 PLN/month

The tuition includes all in-house activities. Meals (4 daily: breakfast, two-course lunch, afternoon snack, second snack), diapers and hygiene products are billed separately. Enrolment fee: 2,000 PLN (one-time). Full current pricing with all options is on the pricing page.

We help with the paperwork and the PUE ZUS application.

Adaptation — the hardest moment, but time-limited

Adaptation is the first 1-3 weeks at nursery, during which the child gradually gets used to the new place, caregivers and daily rhythm. It’s also the hardest moment for the parent — tears at separation are the rule, not the exception.

Our adaptation schedule (adjusted individually):

Day 1-2: Parent with child in the room for 1-2 hours. The child explores the space, meets caregivers and other children — feels it’s a safe place, because mum or dad is there.

Day 3-4: Parent leaves the child for 1-2 hours but stays nearby (e.g. having coffee next door), ready to return. First attempt at independence.

End of week 1: Child stays 3-4 hours, including lunch. Often the moment of tears at goodbye — and joy at pickup.

Week 2: Child stays through afternoon nap and a bit longer (after snack).

Week 3: Full day, if the child is ready. Some children need longer — we respect every pace.

The most common question: „what if my child cries all 3 weeks?”. Answer: it’s rare. Most children after week one start coming willingly, though they may still cry at separation — those are two different things. If adaptation is exceptionally hard, our coordinator meets with the parent and together we adjust the plan (e.g. shorter stays for a longer period, presence of a favourite toy, individual support from our psychologist).

What a day looks like at nursery

The daily rhythm in our 1-3 nursery (approximate hours, adapted to children’s needs):

7:00-8:30 — drop-off, free play, breakfast for those who didn’t eat at home

8:30-9:30 — organised activities in small groups: sensory, movement, singing, object manipulation

9:30-10:00 — second breakfast (fruit, yoghurt)

10:00-11:30 — outdoor time (own garden / walk) — daily, weather permitting

11:30-12:00 — getting ready for lunch, hand washing, hygiene

12:00-12:30 — lunch

12:30-14:30 — afternoon nap (most 1-3-year-olds need 1.5-2 hours of sleep)

14:30-15:00 — waking up, snack

15:00-17:00 — free play, individual activities, rhythm class (3× a week)

17:00-18:00 — pickup; if a parent is late — nobody is left alone

The native speaker is present during the day — accompanying children at play and meals, speaking English. Not „lessons”, just natural listening exposure.

What our nursery offers that a public one doesn’t

We don’t want to demonise public nurseries — many are excellent. But concrete differences:

Caregiver-to-child ratio — in public typically 1:8, with us 1:4-5 (two caregivers per group of 10 children). More hands = more individual attention, faster help, less stress.

Availability — in public Praga-Południe nurseries, enrolment is point-based (social criteria), waiting lists long. With us you can join mid-year if there’s a spot.

Individual diet — allergies, intolerances, vegetarian diet — hard in public, our own kitchen solves it.

On-site therapy support — speech therapist, psychologist available „on site”. In public the child usually has to be referred to a psychological-pedagogical clinic.

What’s worth being aware of

Nursery also means more infections. That’s reality, not a promise that „only healthy children attend us”. The first semester at nursery typically means:

1-3 colds with fever in the first 2 months
Possible gastrointestinal infections (rotavirus, norovirus)
In extreme cases — strep throat or ear infection

That’s natural — the child’s immune system is learning new pathogens. After the first semester things stabilise and nursery children start getting sick less often than those who spent their first 3 years exclusively at home.

The second risk: the child will want more parental attention in the evening („excessive clinging”). It’s a sign of missing — respect it, give attention after work, leave the phone aside. This period passes in 2-4 weeks.

How to start

The simplest path:

Call (+48 510 915 565) or write (biuro@siedmiukrasnoludkow.pl) — we’ll check availability and have a preliminary conversation about your child.
Book a tour — we’ll show you the room, introduce the staff, answer all questions (from price to menu).
Sign the agreement — typically 2-3 weeks before planned adaptation start.
Submit Aktywnie w żłobku application — through ZUS, we have a step-by-step guide.
Begin adaptation — the first day is set flexibly.

If you live in Saska Kępa, Kamionek, Grochów or Praga-Południe generally — we’re „close at hand”. Address: ul. Irlandzka 7. Open 7:30-18:00 (Mon-Fri). We’re here.

Nursery in Saska Kępa — from age one, what to know