EN
Co-production is a new term in Poland; however it has received significant recognition throughout the Western European countries of Europe. Co-production has been used to describe the participation of citizens, also gathered in third sector organisations, in the formulation (setting the directions and tools) and implementation (the provision and management of public services) of various public policies. These types of arrangements can also be found in early childhood education and care in Poland, as is presented in this study. This paper thereby attempts to investigate the state of the art of co-production, including its threelevels – co-production at the service of delivery, co-management and co-governance – in education, paying special attention to the early stage of childcare and education devoted to children at the ages of 3–5. In addition to this, the study endeavours to define the most important obstacles which hinder co-production in early childhood education and care in Poland, with reference to the structural, social and economic factors.