Here is a post detailing the childcare system in Berlin, with details on the differences between Kita and Tagesmutter, how to get a Kitagutschein and more.
This is the second of a series of posts which will aim to explain the (relatively complicated) childcare system in Germany. As there is a lot of information, I have split it into a number of posts:
How to Apply for a Kita Spot in Berlin Following on from my last post about the childcare system in Germany, I will now explain how to go about obtaining a Kita or Kindergarten spot in Berlin. The public system works with a Kitagutschein (Voucher), which you have to obtain from your local Jugendamt and you must have this in order to be able to sign a contract with a Kita. You can, however, begin to look for a spot (this is advisable) long before you are eligible for obtaining a Gutschein.
Depending on where you live in Berlin it may be easier or harder to find a Kita willing to offer you a space for your child. In my experience, areas like Prenzlauer Berg or Friedrichshain, where a lot of young families live, seem to have a severe shortage of Kita spaces. It is permissible to find a Kita spot in a different area of the city to where you live, so you can look in places close to work if that suits. Kitas in Berlin adhere to the Berlin Educational Program (link in English).
Step 1: Once you are pregnant and know when you will be requiring daycare, start viewing Kitas and putting your name on the waiting lists of those that you like. Some Kitas will only accept applications once the baby is born, many beforehand, with the condition that you call them with the full details once the baby is born. A list of Kitas in Berlin can be found online, split up in to area here.
Step 2: Organise your Kita Gutschein. You can do this up to 9 months (and at least 2 months) prior to your child starting Kita (but not before the baby is born). Details in German can be found here.
Kita Fees Explained If your child is under three, the state pays a certain part of the cost of your Kita spot, depending on the income. For the three years prior to starting school, the state pays the full cost and you only have to pay 23 € for food (some Kitas will have additional charges for extra classes, bilingual teaching etc. This is unregulated by the state and you will need to discuss this with the Kitas you are visiting). To give you an idea of how much you will have to pay depending on your income from the year before you had your baby look at Page 8 of this document.
You can apply for 4-5 hours, 5-7 hours, 7-9 hours or 9+ hours of childcare per day. You do have to supply a reason for why you need the childcare i.e. either a letter from your employer detailing your working hours or other reasons such as the need for your child to learn German. Once your child turns 3, he/she has a legal right to 7 hours daily of childcare and as such no explanation is required anymore (unless you are applying for more hours). More information can be found (in German) here.
It is advisable to have a vocal agreement with a Kita that you will get a space before you apply for the Gutschein. On the Gutschein application you must enter the date on which the child will begin daycare and if you have not signed a contract with a Kita by 16 weeks after this date, the Gutschein will no longer be valid and you will have to go through all the forms etc. again.
Step 3: Once you obtain your Gutschein you can then sign a contract with a Kita.
Step 4: Eingewöhnung. In Germany it is typical to do a certain period of “Eingewöhnung” when starting Kita. This means that initially you go to the Kita with your child and stay in the room, then slowly he/she will stay for a short amount of time on their own and this increases bit by bit. The length of this period varies a lot depending on Kita, child and how much pressure you are in to get back to work. Most Kitas say that you should give yourself 4 weeks for this process. So, if you are planning on starting Kita in August, try to not plan your first day of work until late August/early September. You will have to pay for these weeks.
That’s all – your child is now in Kita!!
Further information can also be found here (in German).
Berlin for all the Family can also be found on:
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- Types of childcare
- The financial and organisational side – how to obtain a Kitagutschein and how to organise a Kita spot
- How to organise a Tagesmutter (childminder) spot (read here)
- The bureaucratic side – key documentation translated
How to Apply for a Kita Spot in Berlin Following on from my last post about the childcare system in Germany, I will now explain how to go about obtaining a Kita or Kindergarten spot in Berlin. The public system works with a Kitagutschein (Voucher), which you have to obtain from your local Jugendamt and you must have this in order to be able to sign a contract with a Kita. You can, however, begin to look for a spot (this is advisable) long before you are eligible for obtaining a Gutschein.
Depending on where you live in Berlin it may be easier or harder to find a Kita willing to offer you a space for your child. In my experience, areas like Prenzlauer Berg or Friedrichshain, where a lot of young families live, seem to have a severe shortage of Kita spaces. It is permissible to find a Kita spot in a different area of the city to where you live, so you can look in places close to work if that suits. Kitas in Berlin adhere to the Berlin Educational Program (link in English).
Step 1: Once you are pregnant and know when you will be requiring daycare, start viewing Kitas and putting your name on the waiting lists of those that you like. Some Kitas will only accept applications once the baby is born, many beforehand, with the condition that you call them with the full details once the baby is born. A list of Kitas in Berlin can be found online, split up in to area here.
Step 2: Organise your Kita Gutschein. You can do this up to 9 months (and at least 2 months) prior to your child starting Kita (but not before the baby is born). Details in German can be found here.
Kita Fees Explained If your child is under three, the state pays a certain part of the cost of your Kita spot, depending on the income. For the three years prior to starting school, the state pays the full cost and you only have to pay 23 € for food (some Kitas will have additional charges for extra classes, bilingual teaching etc. This is unregulated by the state and you will need to discuss this with the Kitas you are visiting). To give you an idea of how much you will have to pay depending on your income from the year before you had your baby look at Page 8 of this document.
You can apply for 4-5 hours, 5-7 hours, 7-9 hours or 9+ hours of childcare per day. You do have to supply a reason for why you need the childcare i.e. either a letter from your employer detailing your working hours or other reasons such as the need for your child to learn German. Once your child turns 3, he/she has a legal right to 7 hours daily of childcare and as such no explanation is required anymore (unless you are applying for more hours). More information can be found (in German) here.
It is advisable to have a vocal agreement with a Kita that you will get a space before you apply for the Gutschein. On the Gutschein application you must enter the date on which the child will begin daycare and if you have not signed a contract with a Kita by 16 weeks after this date, the Gutschein will no longer be valid and you will have to go through all the forms etc. again.
Step 3: Once you obtain your Gutschein you can then sign a contract with a Kita.
Step 4: Eingewöhnung. In Germany it is typical to do a certain period of “Eingewöhnung” when starting Kita. This means that initially you go to the Kita with your child and stay in the room, then slowly he/she will stay for a short amount of time on their own and this increases bit by bit. The length of this period varies a lot depending on Kita, child and how much pressure you are in to get back to work. Most Kitas say that you should give yourself 4 weeks for this process. So, if you are planning on starting Kita in August, try to not plan your first day of work until late August/early September. You will have to pay for these weeks.
That’s all – your child is now in Kita!!
Further information can also be found here (in German).
Berlin for all the Family can also be found on:
