Bochum is set to increase flexibility and inclusion in early childhood education in February 2026

Expansion of Flex-Kitas: New models for flexible childcare

In February 2026, Bochum decided to further advance the expansion of Flex-Kitas. These kindergartens offer flexible childcare hours – from 6:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on weekdays and from 7:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Saturdays – and are aimed at families who require flexible, short-notice childcare due to their professional work. Each Flex-Kita provides a maximum of 10 childcare spots. By 2026/2027, a total of ten Flex-Kitas are to be in operation in Bochum.

Currently, seven Flex-Kitas are already in operation, including the AWO Family Center Hermannstraße, the Catholic Family Center Liebfrauen, and the AWO Family Center Wasserstraße. Additional locations are in the planning phase, including the Flex-Kita at Dannenbaumstraße, which will be operated by PME. The city is closely cooperating with independent providers and has also established partnerships with Ruhr-University Bochum to ensure the quality of childcare.

Inclusive childcare: Optimizing staff ratios and group sizes

Another central topic was inclusion in early childhood education. The Committee for Children, Youth and Family (JHA) decided to adjust the state framework agreement to promote inclusive childcare. This includes, among other things, improved staff ratios, flexible group settings, and additional hours for specialized staff.

Particularly noteworthy is the decision not to reduce payments when group sizes are reduced by more than 25%. This allows providers to adjust the quality of childcare as needed without suffering financial disadvantages. At the Kita Vierzehnheiligen, which focuses on children with special needs, the group size is being reduced without allocating additional specialized staff – a sign of greater flexibility in the system.

Childcare provision: U3 quota is rising, but disparities remain

Bochum has also reviewed the current childcare provision for children under three years of age (U3) and children aged three to six years (Ü3). For the kindergarten year 2026/2027, the city plans to provide 2,374 childcare spots in childcare institutions and 1,850 childcare spots in childcare at home for under-three-year-olds. The current U3 provision rate is 52.9% and is expected to rise to 53.7% in the coming year. The goal is to reach a 60% provision rate by 2030.

For children aged three to six years, full childcare provision is aimed at, with a provision rate of 99%. The city has also highlighted that there is still an undersupply in some districts such as Grumme, Gleisdreieck, or Hofstede, while in other districts like Hamme or Laer, there is an oversupply. The city will continue to analyze these disparities and, if necessary, take targeted measures to address them.

Funding: Challenges due to state regulations

Funding for early childhood education emerged as another key issue. The state government has clarified that KiBiz funds can no longer be used as own funds for partially funded subsidy programs. This particularly affects independent and non-profit providers who are not able to build their own capital reserves.

Bochum now plans to assess the impact on the quality of childcare, renovations, and expansions. The administration will also work toward a practical solution or alternative funding instruments to minimize funding gaps.

Conclusion: Bochum on course for high-quality childcare

With the decisions made by the JHA in February 2026, Bochum has taken clear steps toward a more flexible, inclusive, and high-quality early childhood education system. The expansion of Flex-Kitas, the optimization of inclusive offerings, and the review of childcare quotas show that the city is responding to the needs of families. At the same time, funding remains a critical issue that must be closely monitored in the coming months.