Legal entitlement is fulfilled at all school locations – the education service is further expanding all-day programs
Sufficient childcare places will be available at all schools under the administration of the Groß-Gerau district in time for the start of the 2026/27 school year. The district will thus fulfill its legal entitlement to all-day childcare for first grade by September 1, 2026.
The Groß-Gerau District Education Service, established at the beginning of the year, is responsible for implementation . Together with the schools, rooms were prepared, educational concepts developed, and organizational structures created. At the same time, an intensive recruitment effort ensured that sufficient support staff were hired.
“We faced the major challenge of meeting the stringent legal requirements within a short timeframe. The fact that we can now offer sufficient childcare places at all school locations is a great success for the entire team,” explains Axel Lorenz, Managing Director of the Groß-Gerau District Education Service. The newly established education service has achieved a great deal in a short time and demonstrates the effectiveness of establishing its own public sponsorship.
According to the district, its own organizational structure enables uniform quality standards, flexible staffing, and close coordination with the schools. The goal is to further develop all-day schooling not only as childcare but also as a high-quality educational and support program.
At one school location, the enrollment of children is being implemented gradually. New childcare workers were only able to start on August 1st and are currently undergoing training. The district emphasizes that all registered children will nevertheless receive a childcare place by September 1st . The staggered enrollment is intended to ensure a high-quality start.
District Administrator Thomas Will sees this as an important signal for families: “The Groß-Gerau district is taking responsibility. We are fulfilling the legal entitlement, creating reliability for families, and investing in good all-day programs for our children. This gives parents planning security and strengthens the schools at the same time.”
The Groß-Gerau District Education Service was established as a public corporation on January 1, 2026. It is responsible for the planning, organization, staffing, and quality development of all-day programs at the district's general education schools. Approximately 300 employees work together with the schools to design and implement these programs. The Education Service is financed through parental contributions, subsidies from the State of Hesse, and funds from the Groß-Gerau district.
(DISTRICT OF GROSS-GERAU – RED/PSKGG)
