Registration in kindergarten: how and when?

Registration in kindergarten: Different procedures

Registration for kindergarten in Germany can vary greatly depending on the municipality and kindergarten. In addition to the formalities, the period for registering in kindergarten also differs, for example. Some facilities are so popular that parents have their children put on the waiting list while they are pregnant so that they have a realistic chance of getting a place when the time comes. In general, parents can register their child in a kindergarten after their second birthday, as in most federal states and institutions they have a legal right to a kindergarten place from the age of three .

Registration in a municipal kindergarten

We have put together for you what you should consider when registering in a municipal kindergarten:

• When to register? You can register in the municipal kindergarten immediately after the birth of your baby. In most facilities, the registration period ends no later than two to six months before the desired start of childcare. After registration, your child will be placed on the waiting list for a kindergarten in the responsible municipality.
• Register where? To register in the municipal or municipal kindergarten, you can contact the responsible youth welfare office directly. In addition to the list of kindergartens, you will also receive the necessary application forms here . You can also register directly in the kindergarten of your choice, but there is no guarantee that your child will also be allocated a place in this kindergarten. If you are interested in several municipal or municipal kindergartens, you still only need to fill out one application. It is not helpful to register in every kindergarten, because places are allocated centrally.
• Registration procedure: In addition to your working and commuting times as well as the desired childcare duration, you also enter your desired kindergarten in the registration form. In addition, you indicate other kindergartens that you would switch to if your desired kindergarten no longer has any vacancies. The municipality responsible examines the application and then allocates a place to the child. This can also be in one of the “alternative kindergartens” or in another kindergarten within the responsible municipality, which is considered reasonable. In such a case, any kindergarten that is no more than half an hour away from the place of residence is considered reasonable. Parents therefore do not always have a say in the choice of municipal kindergarten.
  A notice:In municipal or city kindergartens, there are usually only places for children who are registered in the respective municipality. The neighboring municipalities are not obliged to provide your child with a place.
• What costs? The costs for the kindergarten place are determined by the individual municipalities and vary greatly. In most cases, the income of the parents, the size of the household and the length of the childcare period are taken into account when calculating the kindergarten fee.

Registration in a private kindergarten

In addition to registering in a municipal or municipal kindergarten, you can also register your child in private or church kindergartens. Here you can pay attention to the following things:

• When to register? Parents should take care of the registration in a private kindergarten at an early stage. Some kindergartens are so popular that interested parents have their children put on the waiting list before they are even born.
• Register where? When registering for a private kindergarten, you should inquire about the registration formalities directly with the management or the operator of the facility. You can easily do this by telephone or you can go to the kindergarten management during opening hours and get information directly.
• Registration procedure: To register in the private kindergarten, you can contact the management during the opening hours of the kindergarten and receive the necessary application forms or have your child put on the waiting list straight away. A large number of institutions also organize regular information evenings for parents in the spring. You can usually make an appointment by phone. On such an evening there is not only the opportunity to get a first impression of the kindergarten during a guided tour, parents are also informed about the organization responsible for the facility, the organizational process and the pedagogical concept. You can also use this opportunity to register your child or have it put on the waiting list.
• What costs? The costs for a private kindergarten are usually higher than for a municipal or municipal kindergarten. The owner of the facility determines the fees. You can simply ask the kindergarten of your choice.

Selection criteria for registration in kindergarten

When registering for kindergarten, a large number of institutions take factors such as:

• Entry age: Since 1996, every child in Germany who has reached the age of three has the right to a place in kindergarten. This entitlement usually amounts to a half-day childcare place.
• Proximity to place of residence: Many kindergartens have a specific catchment area and do not accept children from other districts or locations.
• Marital status: In many institutions, children of single parents are given preference.
• Care time: The length of the care time is also decisive for admission to the kindergarten.
• Composition of the groups: The kindergartens also decide according to the sex of the child in order to create a balance between boys and girls.
• Babies in diapers: Kindergartens are not obliged to take in diapers and many also refuse to do so. However, it can be clarified in advance whether the chosen kindergarten will accept some diaper babies.
• Siblings : In most kindergartens, priority is given to children whose older siblings are already being cared for in the same facility.

As you can see, registration for kindergarten varies greatly from institution to institution. For this reason, you should take care of a place for your child in good time.