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City council reacts to nationwide legal entitlement to full-day childcare
From August 1, 2026, a nationwide legal entitlement to full-day care for primary school children , initially for first-graders, and then gradually for other grades. Against this backdrop, the city council of Darmstadt, a city of science, approved a proposal on Wednesday (3rd) to adjust the after-school care program.
Different demand for after-school care places
Currently, 4,713 childcare places are available for primary school children in Darmstadt – a combination of after-school care places and places offered through the Pact for All-Day Care . With the continuous expansion of all-day care programs, demand is changing: after-school care places are being used less in some districts.
Mayor Barbara Akdeniz emphasizes:
“It is our responsibility to examine whether, in the event of insufficient demand for after-school care places, these can be converted into childcare services for children under three or over three. After-school care centers that are needed will of course remain open – a blanket closure is not planned.”
Expansion and educational benefits
Head of Education Holger Klötzner emphasizes that despite the shortage of qualified staff, around 250 additional childcare places have been created compared to the previous year. "Currently, over 80 percent of parents use a childcare place. The upcoming legal entitlement will further increase demand, and we are preparing for this together with the providers."
In addition to organizational aspects, Klötzner also points to the educational advantages: "When teaching and care take place at the same location, this strengthens the all-day school as a rhythmic school and brings variety to everyday life."
Strategic management planned
To ensure future provision, the youth welfare office and the school board intend to regularly assess and compare the needs in each social area. "This will create a solid basis for decisions regarding the adaptation of services at each primary school location," explain Akdeniz and Klötzner.
(DARMSTADT – RED/PSD/dk)
