Services for Families

Children under 3 years of age

Play groups, child minders and nursery schools are all available, if you need them. Play groups are basically the pre-stage for nursery schools and the service is usually available just 2-3 times a week for about 3 hours. Child minders offer individual care for your children. The government may financially support parents who are still students. Nursery school services may differ from one provider to another, since no standard regulations apply. You can contact "Babysitter- und Tagesmütterkartei des Mütterzentrums Kassel" (Friedrich-Ebert-Str. 171) on 0561-7390025 for the child care service. Information is also available online. 

Children aged 3-6

You can find three kinds of child care service for children aged between 3 and 6 in and around Kassel. Supervised basic schooling offers services of up to 3 teaching hours per day in coordination with primary schools. Supervised basic schooling I with after-school care extends the period of care until 3 p.m., while supervised basic schooling after-school care II stays open until 5 p.m.

Registering for day care

It is possible for you to find day care for your children from the time that they are born until they are six years old, either at a day care centre (Kindergarten) or with a child minder. However, children aged three or more have a greater chance of gaining a day care place. Children younger than three are also entitled to day care, provided that both parents work or are participating in vocational training or receiving further education. The monthly fees for day care are determined according to the parents’ income. If you would like day care for your child or children in a small group (between three and five children), then a child minder is recommended. You can find a child minder either through private channels or via the Youth Welfare Office. If you are looking for a babysitter for a few hours during the afternoon or evening, then please look for information at the Welcome Point, the local newspapers, posters or babysitting agencies.

The Federal Ministry of Education and Researchwebsite

Here is the new website of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research for day care: www.vorteil-kinderbetreuung.de. You can discover more Information, addresses and local services about child care. The various types of child care in Germany are presented on the website and the site offers support to help parents decide on the best option – i.e. which form of care is appropriate for their child. The service portal helps you find information about the local contact persons and partners for child care facilities in your area.

Day care at the University of Kassel

We can provide you with information about day care facilities. 

Attending a school is compulsory for children throughout Germany from the age of 6 years upwards. Children normally attend elementary school for four years. In exceptional cases, it is possible for them to start school at the age of five, while seven is the maximum age. There is no standard secondary school system in the 16 German states. However, though the names of the types of schools and school exams may vary from state to state, they are mutually recognized. Having completed elementary school, the pupil, teaching staff and parents decide what form the child’s further education should take. The decision is based not only on the child’s academic achievements, but also on their personal circumstances.

There are three main types of secondary school: general, secondary modern and grammar schools. Comprehensive schools, which exist in most states, combine all forms of secondary education in a single school. Alternatively, it is possible to attend schools offering the general and secondary modern school leaving certificates.

Having attained a general or secondary modern school leaving certificate, pupils have several choices: they can attend a school that qualifies them for a career or further studies or they can begin professional training in the dual system – so-called because it combines both practical and theoretical knowledge. Once they have completed 9 or 10 years of schooling required by law, pupils are required to attend vocational school for a further three years. The final examination taken by pupils attending a grammar school is known as the Abitur. Pupils who gain this qualification are entitled to study at a university or technical college.

Education at state-run schools is free of charge. If you not wish to send your children to a state-run school, there are a number of alternatives: these include privately-run day schools and boarding schools, not to mention Waldorf schools.

As a young immigrant entering Germany, you may need to take special courses and receive additional instruction in order to be integrated into the German school system. Most towns offer international courses that prepare young people for the transition to the regular school system. Integration into a secondary school can prove particularly difficult. Local education authorities can give you information on the opportunities that are available.