Daycare in Thuringia
Enrolment, costs, parental fees and care hours: the rules for Thuringia at a glance. Details are often set by the municipality; the place search in the Kita wiki takes you there.
Enrolment and place allocation
Municipal portals + direct applications:
Parents register their childcare needs via municipal portals
and may list up to three preferred centers.
Afterward, applications must be submitted directly to the chosen facilities.
Admission decisions are made by the provider.
Legal entitlement applies from age one.
Costs
Last 2 years before school are free:
Since August 2018, the final two years before school entry
(around age 4+) are free of charge.
Parents pay fees for younger children based on income
and municipal contribution rules.
A third free year is planned for 2027.
Billing and parental fees
Billed by municipalities:
Municipalities invoice parents and receive state funding.
Meals (~€30/month) and additional services are charged separately.
Low-income families can apply for full or partial fee exemption.
Care hours and closures
Operating hours vary by provider:
Typical hours: 07:00–17:00.
Annual closure periods of ~20–25 days
(summer + holidays + training).
Thuringia features longer opening hours compared to many western states.
Childcare options
Diverse provider landscape:
Public, church-affiliated, non-profit, and private providers.
Private providers receiving public funding must follow municipal regulations.
Parents have free choice of provider, subject to availability.
Legal framework
Thuringian Childcare and Early Education Act (ThürKiGaG):
The ThürKiGaG (December 16, 2005) regulates childcare and early education in Thuringia.
The state defines the legal framework, while municipalities and independent cities
act as local youth welfare authorities and are responsible for needs planning and implementation.
Further notes
Opportunity to improve quality by 2030:
Declining child numbers enable better staff-to-child ratios by 2030,
if around 1,700 new educators are hired.
Current ratios: 1 staff per 5.1 babies;
1 staff per 10.3 preschoolers.
Legislative adjustments and workforce expansion needed.