Government Says Childcare Service Voucher Reforms Strengthen Access to Education

On Monday 12 January 2026, Luxembourg’s Ministry of Education, Childhood and Youth presented details of reforms to the Childcare Service Voucher (CSA).

According to the ministry, the reforms are based around four central pillars: financial relief for families; a guaranteed childcare place for every child; strengthened governance; and improved quality of care.

Luxembourg Minister of Education, Childhood and Youth, Claude Meisch, presented the detailed measures of this reform at a press conference, during which he said: “The primary objective of the reform is investment in the quality of childcare. We all know that high-quality care promotes children’s development in many ways. That is why continuous development of the quality of structures, investment in qualified staff, coherent ongoing training, as well as recognition of childminders and additional resources for healthy and balanced nutrition are essential.”

The CSA: a lever for equal opportunities

The Childcare Service Voucher scheme guarantees equitable and universal access to non-formal education. The introduction, in 2017, of partial free provision (20 hours) of early childhood care in nurseries and the free provision for school-aged children in after-school care centres, introduced in 2022, contribute to offering every child – regardless of socio-economic background or the language spoken at home – fair opportunities for success.

In a continuous approach to quality improvement, and in response to evolving social and economic realities, the government said it intends to strengthen access to education and childcare structures while making sustainable investments in the quality of non-formal education.

Substantial financial relief for families

The government stated that the reform will result in financial relief for families. The State will cover two-thirds of the costs previously borne by parents for their children’s care. Depending on household circumstances, this may represent annual financial relief of several thousand euros. The CSA scale will be adjusted to further reduce child poverty and allow targeted financial relief based on household income.

Uniform billing rules

The government announced that new billing rules will come into effect. Uniform pricing will apply to all education and care services, which will no longer be able to charge additional fees. Billing will now be based on the child’s registered hours rather than a flat hourly package. The total savings for households, calculated across all children, will amount to €79 million per year.

A childcare place for every child

Furthermore, the government reaffirmed its objective of guaranteeing a childcare place for every child who needs one by 2030. It noted that the creation and long-term maintenance of childcare places required a stable and sustainable financial framework.

In this context, the government announced that state contributions to education and childcare structures will increase from €6 to €7 per hour per child. From 2027, all structures will benefit from a new state compensation scheme for secure funding. A rent subsidy will also support structures with rental costs.

Strengthened governance

In terms of governance, the government said clear and harmonised rules and enhanced control mechanisms will ensure that public funding serves the public service mission of non-formal education.

Investing in quality

Significant investments are also planned to improve the quality of care in education and childcare structures, notably through adjustments to staffing ratios. The role of childminders will also be further recognised based on their qualifications.

Moreover, the government confirmed that a new public administration, the Agency for the Development of Quality in Childhood and Youth Sectors (AQUEN), will be tasked with sustainably strengthening quality, pedagogical innovation and the professionalisation of actors across all non-formal education structures.

The ministry said: “The CSA reform responds to needs identified on the ground, the expectations of families and the State’s obligations regarding children’s rights, so that every child can benefit from high-quality, safe, inclusive care oriented towards their full development.”