Childcare in Freiberg am Neckar: Structural Adjustments and Financial Impacts in April 2026

New Care Hours and Structures

In April 2026, the city of Freiberg am Neckar made important decisions to adapt the structure of childcare. The introduction of two new full-day options – 40 hours (7 to 15) and 45 hours (7 to 16) – is a central focus. These models aim to offer families more flexible and demand-oriented care hours.

The decision is based on a comprehensive survey of parents as well as recommendations from the regional youth office, which were made in response to staff shortages and the need for stable care hours. At the same time, it was decided to continue the interim group "Maulwurf" at Flattichkinderhaus for the time being until September 2026 in order to temporarily meet the childcare needs.

The daycare administration emphasizes that the new structure should allow for a better distribution of care hours and improve utilization. However, there are limitations in flexibility, particularly regarding individual pick-up times, which vary from one daycare to another.

Fee Adjustments and Financial Impacts

The financial implications of the new regulations are significant. The city has passed a new ordinance on the collection of usage fees for kindergartens, which will come into effect on 01.09.2026. The fees are based on the family's net income and are divided into two fee levels.

For the new 40-hour care model, the monthly fees amount to 355.00 € (fee level 1, youngest child), and for the 45-hour model, they amount to 430.00 €. These fees include an additional cost for lunch on five days a week.

The fee adjustment was made in consideration of legal requirements, particularly the entitlement to full-day care for primary school children starting with the school year 2026/2027. Furthermore, terms such as "childcare facility" were replaced by "kindergarten" in the ordinance to reflect the new structures.

Financially, this means higher costs for the city of Freiberg due to personnel restructuring, but also savings through the dissolution of the interim group at Riedstraße 37. The fees for the new models are on average 85 € higher than the fees for the previously extended opening hours (VÖ6/VÖ7), which is due to the higher care intensity.

Personnel and Organizational Challenges

The implementation of the new care hours also has personnel and organizational consequences. In some kindergartens such as the Beethovenkindergarten, Flattichkinderhaus, and Kinderhaus "Die Murmel," additional personnel are needed due to the increased care volume. At the same time, personnel savings were possible in other facilities, especially through the dissolution of the interim group at Riedstraße.

Another issue is the high sick leave rate and the vacant positions, which in recent months have led to reductions in care hours. Thus, in four out of seven kindergartens, care hours were reduced between June 2025 and February 2026. Only with March 2026 could three kindergartens resume the 44-hour care again, while the 50-hour care at Kinderhaus "Die Murmel" is still not possible.

The daycare administration is working closely with the facility directors to flexibly adjust the care hours while ensuring the stability and quality of care. The planned adjustment of care hours for the 40-hour model to 07:30 to 15:30 was positively received by parents, but is still under review.

Outlook and Future Challenges

The new regulations in Freiberg am Neckar show how cities are dealing with increasing demands on childcare. The introduction of 40- and 45-hour care is a step towards a family-friendly infrastructure that also meets the needs of working parents.

At the same time, challenges remain, particularly concerning staff coverage and financing. The fee adjustments must also be accepted by parents, which is crucial through clear communication and transparency. The city plans to revise the fee schedule for the period starting in 2027 to achieve long-term stability.