Childcare in Nordhorn: Challenges and Developments in April 2026

Childcare in Nordhorn: An Overview of Current Developments

Childcare is a central issue for the future viability of cities. In Nordhorn, the situation is intensifying further in April 2026. Numerous meetings and reports show that both the capacity and the financial relief for families are reaching their limits. At the same time, it becomes clear that solutions are being discussed, including expansion planning and a fairer contribution system.

The Current Care Rate and Waiting Lists

The current situation in Nordhorn is characterized by a significant shortfall. The care rate for children under three years of age is only 60.84%, with a waiting list of 128 families. For children aged 3 to 6, the rate is 88.39%, which is also far below the target.

The number of required care places is continuously increasing. For the kindergarten year 2026/27, for example, 1,825 children need to be cared for, but only 1,671 places are available. To reach the target rate of 100%, further expansion projects are necessary. Some of these measures are already in planning, including the construction of a new kindergarten with 90% of the places reserved for Nordhorn children starting in 2025/26, as well as the conversion of regular groups into nursery groups.

The Nordhorn Pass: Income Dependency and Social Differentiation

Another central topic is the Nordhorn Pass, which serves as the basis for calculating parents' contributions for childcare for children under three years of age (U3 childcare). The pass is divided into 14 income levels, with the amount of the contribution directly depending on the income level.

In 2025, a total of 1,544 Nordhorn Passes were issued. The distribution is interesting: 71% of the cases are in the highest income level (Level 14), 12% in Level 2, and only 3% in Level 1. This shows that the majority of families in Nordhorn are in higher income brackets. At the same time, it becomes clear that there is hardly any financial relief for families in the lower income brackets.

The city now plans to revise the Nordhorn Pass in order to reduce the financial burden on families and to improve access to municipal services. A working group consisting of representatives from various departments and political actors will address this issue. The goal is to make the system fairer without increasing the financial burden on the city.

Inclusive Care and Therapeutic Facilities

A particularly sensitive topic is the care of children with special needs. In Nordhorn, there are currently 19 children with a need for inclusive care. However, no places in inclusive groups have been available so far.

The principle of "group integration before individual integration" is crucial here. To convert all individual integration measures into group integration, six additional integration groups with a total of 42 places would have to be created. This is a demanding project that requires new personnel and spatial resources.

In addition, the therapeutic facilities in Nordhorn are fully occupied. The Therapeutic Kindergarten and the Speech Therapy Kindergarten offer a total of 66 places, all of which are filled. This shows that the demand for special care services is increasing and new structures are required.

Outlook: Challenges and Opportunities for the Future

Childcare in Nordhorn is facing major challenges. The current care rate is below the target values, the waiting lists are long, and the financial relief for families is limited. At the same time, the current planning up to 2032/2033 offers opportunities to improve the situation.

The planned expansion measures, the revision of the Nordhorn Pass, and the discussion on better integration policies show that the city of Nordhorn is actively working on the future viability of its childcare system. Whether these measures will be sufficient to meet the growing demand remains to be seen. What is crucial is that the city remains consistent in its implementation in the coming years and also finds new solutions for problems such as the lack of a skateboard training area or after-school care.