For textbooks and tutoring as for grain. Parents spent an average of PLN 2,407 on a layette

On average, parents spent PLN 2,407 at the beginning of the 2025/2026 school year to meet the needs of their children, including: purchase of textbooks, accessories, clothes, mandatory fees, e.g. for insurance, tuition, boarding, boarding. This is PLN 813 more than a year ago – according to the CBOS survey.

The respondents' declarations show that 2% spent up to PLN 300 this year. parents, from PLN 301 to 500 – 10 percent, from PLN 501 to 800 – 12 percent, from PLN 801 to 1,000 – 21 percent, from PLN 1,001 to 1,500 – 14 percent, over PLN 1,500 – 28 percent14 percent did not specify the amount of its expenses.

CBOS indicates an increase, compared to last year, in the percentage of families who declared amounts ranging from PLN 301 to PLN 1,000 (an increase of 7 percentage points to 43%), with a decrease in the share of those declaring expenses exceeding PLN 1,500 (a decrease of 5 percentage points to 28%) and those who spent up to PLN 300 or nothing at all. (down 3 points to 2%).

On average, PLN 536 more than a year ago

The arithmetic mean of declared total expenses for school supplies at the beginning of the current school year for families with one child was PLN 1,693. In total, for two students it was an average of PLN 3,314, while families with at least three children spent an average of PLN 1,825.

At the beginning of this school year, parents spent an average of PLN 1,588 per child, which is PLN 536 more than last year.

Further costs include additional classes and tutoring

At the beginning of the current school year, 80 percent parents of school-age children declared that one of them attends or will attend additional paid educational and general development classes this school year. “This is a record result since we started examining this issue, i.e. since the 1998/1999 school year,” CBOS points out.

The decision to send children to paid extracurricular activities is influenced primarily by the parents' education level, and the higher it is, the greater the children's chances of taking part in such activities. This year, most parents with basic vocational education or less are or will be financing additional classes for their children.

However, there are no significant differences in parents' declarations regarding the financing of additional classes for school-age children and adolescents due to their place of residence, assessment of the financial conditions of their own household and declared per capita income.

Mostly for sports, then languages

In the 2025/2026 school year, the most popular type of paid educational and general development activities for school-age children and youth are sports activities, which are paid or intend to be paid by 57% of students this school year. parents, which means it increased by 7 points. percent compared to last year. A level previously recorded only in the 2018/2019 school year was achieved.

48 percent parents declared that their children would attend paid foreign language classes (decrease by 2 percentage points), 34 percent – for tutoring and preparatory courses (increase by 5 percentage points), 30 percent – for artistic classes (increase by 6 percentage points), 9 percent – for other classes, e.g. therapeutic, IT (increase by 4 percentage points). 20 percent parents reported that they did not pay for any extracurricular activities (a decrease of 7 percentage points).

On average, almost PLN 1,000 for additional classes

The average declared monthly expenditure on paid additional activities is PLN 944 and is PLN 48 higher than last year. The most frequently declared amount for additional classes this school year for all children is PLN 500 per month. The average declared monthly expenses per child is PLN 675, which is PLN 72 more than in 2024.

The study was carried out from October 2 to 13, 2025 on a sample of 901 adult residents of Poland, drawn from the PESEL register. Each respondent independently chose one of the survey methods: 61.2%. chose a direct interview with the participation of an interviewer (CAPI method), 22.5 percent – telephone interview after contacting a CBOS interviewer (CATI), 16.3 percent – self-completed online survey (CAWI). In all three cases, the survey had the same set of questions and structure. 178 parents with school-age children answered questions about expenses related to the start of the new school year. (PAP)

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