Parents in Andalucia will no longer have to pay for childcare for their youngest as nursery is set to become completely free.

The measure, one of the latest policies agreed under the PP-Vox coalition deal, means families with children aged 0 to 3 will pay nothing for places at private nurseries that are part of the Junta de Andalucia’s subsidised network.

The policy will come into force from the 2026-27 academic year, completing the rollout of free childcare much earlier than originally planned.

Under previous proposals, free places for one to two-year-olds were due to be introduced this September, with younger children following over several years.

However, the new agreement accelerates the timetable, extending free childcare to babies aged under one from September and making the entire 0-3 stage free in just two years.

The regional government says the measure will cover around 130,000 nursery places, with approximately 60,000 families expected to benefit from the newly free places for children aged under one.

According to the Junta, families will save an average of €250 per month, or up to €2,750 over a full school year.

The agreement also includes additional funding for nursery providers to ensure the policy is financially sustainable and to support the long-term stability of the childcare sector.

From January 2027, the Junta will also increase the amount it pays nurseries for each child, raising the monthly rate from €240.53 to €250.15 after providers argued the previous funding model had become outdated.

However, the region’s early morning childcare service (aula matinal) will not be covered by the free childcare scheme.

Instead, its monthly cost will rise to €23.91 from the next school year, marking the first increase for schools since 2017.

Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.