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Horde full of worries: Parents in Rhinow fight for childcare space!
In Havelland, parents in Rhinow are fighting for after-school places because the demand, with 104 applications, exceeds the 100 places available.
Horde full of worries: Parents in Rhinow fight for childcare space!
In Rhinow, parents are currently fighting for after-school care places for their children. The after-school care center has already accommodated 98 children, but the situation is getting worse: 104 applications have already been received for the coming school year starting in September. There are only 100 places available, which means that four children may be left without a childcare place. The parents are alarmed and express their concerns, for example in the administrative committee, where they point out the insufficient number of places available.
One affected family submitted their application on time at the end of May, but things are looking bleak for them too. The legal right to an after-school place exists up to and including fourth grade, and since the rooms have now reached their capacity limits after an increase last year, additional places are not possible. The after-school care center in Rhinow was expanded from 80 to 100 places last year, but the increase in demand, particularly due to a double year group at the school, means that the current capacity is not sufficient.
Nationwide shortage of childcare places
The current situation in Rhinow reflects a much bigger problem: There is a shortage of daycare and kindergarten places throughout Germany. Parents who apply for a place for their child are often faced with rejected applications. However, according to Section 24 SGB VIII, parents have a legal right to a childcare place. This applies not only to children from the age of three until they start school, but also to younger children if their parents are employed or in training. However, finding suitable places remains a challenge.
From 2026 there will also be a nationwide legal right to all-day care for primary school children. Until then, parents are required to seek places in daycare centers early on, as they are not free to choose which facility their child goes to. The applications must be submitted to the youth welfare office at the earliest six months and at the latest three months before the need. In urban areas, the assigned kindergarten must also be reachable within a maximum travel time of around 30 minutes.
Options in case of rejection
How the current situation in Rhinow will develop remains to be seen. If an application is rejected, parents can file an objection and request a written rejection notice. If the claim is further rejected, the claim can be enforced before the administrative court, with expedited proceedings being recommended. Courts often tend to support parents in daycare matters, but there are individual exceptional cases here too.
Another point that parents should keep in mind: If they have to seek private care, they can, under certain conditions, claim the additional costs back from the municipality, especially if the appropriate rooms are not provided. There are also options for claims for damages, particularly in the event of loss of earnings, provided the affected parents have previously asserted their right to a daycare place.
The administration in Rhinow has announced that it will contact the affected families to find possible solutions. However, there are currently no plans to expand the after-school care center in the short term. In this respect, the parents only have to actively fight for their demands and hopefully find solutions, because the care of their children must be secured despite the challenges.