Framework conditions for child day care

If a child under the age of one is to be looked after, the specialist service will also check how many hours a week the child can be looked after.

After a processing period (usually around 4 weeks), the parents/guardians will then receive a confirmation by post from the specialist service, together with the cost contribution and further information.

The City of Offenbach also provides financial support for child day care. This means that parents only pay part of the costs incurred.

Since April 1, 2006, a monthly fee has been charged for the use of a place in a day care center, similar to attending a day care center. An amount of 1 euro is charged per hour of care (up to a maximum of 50 hours per week). The maximum amount per month is therefore 217 euros.

Parents who are unable to pay the fee for financial reasons can apply to the youth welfare office to have the costs covered in accordance with § 90 SGB VIII. Recipients of ALG2, housing benefit or child supplement have a simplified application procedure. To clarify the requirements and the specific application procedure, parents should contact the relevant office in the administration: kitazuschussoffenbachde

When registering, you can indicate on the "Confirmation of childcare" form (see Registration and deregistration) that you wish to apply for a cost transfer; the application will then be sent by post.

The smaller children are, the more their immune system still has to "practice". This means that children are much more susceptible to infectious diseases. As soon as they leave the "nest" at home, they are confronted with pathogens. Children still put a lot of things in their mouths, cough directly at others, have a lot of direct physical contact with each other and cannot wash their hands all the time. They then become ill, 8-12 times a year is normal, and this is nobody's "fault".

In order for the child to emerge from the illness (immune) strengthened, it must overcome the illness well. To do this, it needs peace/safety, comfort and individual care. None of this is usually available in day care. When up to 4 other children are present, both the sick child and the childminder reach the limits of their resilience. Sick children belong with their parents or other caregivers who can respond to the needs of the sick child. This should also be made clear to employers.

A cold alone does not have to be a criterion for exclusion; ultimately, the childminder weighs up whether the child is "fit for group work" (again). They check whether the child can take part in everyday life and feels comfortable doing so. Sometimes children behave "normally" at home, giving the impression that they are not "really" ill. If in doubt, parents should talk to their childminder about this.

Childcare is clearly excluded in the case of

• Fever above 38.5 degrees Celsius,
• gastrointestinal illnesses and
• all contagious illnesses/infectious diseases

In the event of a notifiable disease, you can report it here to the Offenbach City Health Department:

The Robert Koch Institute provides good guidance on dealing with diseases and re-authorization periods:

Childminders are also not always able to provide care. Similar to a crèche or daycare center, there are predictable downtimes. According to the statutes, a day care center is entitled to 25 days of closure per year. In addition, there are up to 2 days for participation in further training and, in individual cases, a maximum of 3 further days for appointments arranged by the specialist service (discussions or events relevant to the care license). Parents are usually informed of these at the beginning or during the course of the year so that they can prepare and plan their vacation.

However, there are also unplanned absences due to illness of the childminder or their children. Unlike in the crèche, however, there is no way of compensating for this, for example by changing rosters - the childminder works alone.

In the event of unplanned absences, the city can financially support a replacement with another childminder. However, there are not always free places available; moreover, a substitute only makes sense if the child already knows this other person and has been able to build up trust with them.

If parents need a replacement if their childminder falls ill, they can submit an application for a replacement to the specialist advisory service. Please refer to these forms: