Municipal Nurseries: Free Attendance or Reduced Monthly Fees for Low-income, Large and Single-parent Families (per Municipality)

Many municipalities run municipal nurseries for babies and toddlers until they enrol in compulsory pre-school. Places are given by a points system (social and financial criteria), usually after enrolments with the EETAA (ESPA) voucher, and each municipality sets by council decision the monthly fees and who is exempt or gets a discount. Examples for 2026: in the Municipality of Thermi attendance is free for family income up to €6,000 and fees are €50 to €250 a month depending on income; large families with income up to €40,000 are exempt (above €40,000, 50% off), three-child families with income up to €25,000 get 30% off, single-parent families with income up to €18,000 are exempt, and a second child at the nurseries gets 50% off — provided the family is not entitled to the ESPA programme or applied and was refused. In the Municipality of Elliniko-Argyroupoli there are no fees at the municipal nurseries for children of residents. In the Municipality of Paionia a municipal committee reviews points-based enrolment applications and requests for fee exemption or reduction, and in the Municipality of Patras the Social Organisation (KODIP) enrols children by points in the places left after the voucher. Ask your municipality for its own limits and the enrolment deadline (usually in May).