New rules for daycare additional payments: What parents need to know now!

New rules for daycare additional payments: What parents need to know now!

In the current discussion about child day care, it is clear that the issues of additional payments and the rights of parents are playing an increasingly important role. Especially since the most recent regulations, many Bavarian municipalities are asking themselves: What options do parents actually have to get a daycare place and what costs do they have to pay?

As noe.orf.at reports, no additional payments may be a requirement when concluding a care contract. This means that every provider is obliged to offer a place that does not involve any financial obligations for the parents. Parents who have already agreed on additional payments can cancel these with one month's notice to the end of the month. Particularly important: Terminating the additional payment must not lead to the termination of the care contract.

Regulations for parent-initiative daycare centers

However, the situation looks somewhat different in parent-initiative daycare centers (EKT). Here parents are not entitled to a place free of charge. In addition, the agreed additional payments cannot simply be canceled unilaterally. Within the sponsoring association, a majority decision applies to such agreements. Nevertheless, it was determined that a new upper limit of 100 euros for additional payments was also introduced in EKT.

The legal basis for child day care in Germany is laid down in the Social Code, more precisely in Section 24 SGB VIII. This regulates the legal right to support for children from the age of one until they start school. Cities and municipalities are required to create needs-based offers and to inform parents about the available places, as explained on kindertagesbetreuung.de.

Obligation to supervise and insurance coverage

Meanwhile, the obligation to supervise remains a central issue. This lies with the guardians and is handed over to the providers or specialists during the care period. The safety of the children must also be ensured: accident insurance coverage applies not only to activities within the program, but also on the way to care, which gives parents additional security.

The current regulations on additional payments and the provision of daycare places show that the needs of families are becoming the focus. Despite all the challenges in the system, there are always positive approaches that should make it easier for parents to find the right care for their children.

While adjustments still need to be made in many cities and municipalities, it remains to be seen how the situation in the Bavarian region will develop. It is obvious that a certain level of commitment is required from both the providers and the parents - a good hand at this can only be an advantage!

For more information and current updates on the regulations in child day care, visit the pages of [berlin.de](https://www.berlin.de/sen/jugend/familie-und-kinder/kindertagesbetreuung/kosten participation/) and kindertagesbetreuung.de.