Childcare

Needs Planning

The district youth office, as the provider of public youth welfare, has the legal mandate and obligation to plan and provide a demand-oriented offer of childcare places in daycare centers (KiTa) and child day care (KTP). The goal of needs planning is to enable all children, according to their age and individual life situation, access to early childhood education, care, and upbringing, as well as to support families in reconciling family and work. 

Because children from the age of one have a legal entitlement to day care (KiTa or child day care); children from 3 years old until school entry have a legal entitlement to a place in a daycare center (KiTa).

Legal Entitlement

Starting from the 2026/2027 school year, the legal entitlement to a childcare offer for primary school students will be expanded. The Act on All-Day Support for Children of Primary School Age (Ganztagsförderungsgesetz) includes the gradual introduction of this entitlement. Initially, it applies to the first grade and will be extended by one grade each year until the 2029/2030 school year.

In the Oberbergischer Kreis, this provision is currently ensured in 90 daycare centers by 29 recognized providers of independent youth welfare services, supplemented by 109 childminders.

Additionally, childcare places for primary school students are available at all 33 school locations within the jurisdiction of the district youth office. The open all-day care offer is further supplemented in eight out of nine municipalities within the district youth office's jurisdiction by an 8-13 hour care service.