Kindergartens in Flensburg: How Language and Culture Mediators and Kindergarten Assistants Strengthen Care Quality

Flensburg is investing in language and culture mediators and kindergarten assistants

In recent years, the child and youth welfare services in Flensburg have increasingly focused on inclusion, equal opportunities, and quality assurance in kindergarten care. In February 2026, the youth welfare committee once again addressed topics that align with these objectives: the support of language and culture mediators and kindergarten assistants. These two initiatives are part of a comprehensive strategy to specifically support kindergartens with a high proportion of children with a migration background and those with children in need of additional support.

Language and culture mediators: Bridging the way for more inclusion

Language and culture mediators (SpKM) play a crucial role in relieving kindergartens with a high share of children with a migration background. The aim of the support is to remove language barriers and promote intercultural communication. This support was decided retroactively from January 1, 2026, and is limited to the year 2026.

SpKM assist kindergartens, for example, in parent meetings, in conveying information about kindergarten rules and daily routines, or in accompanying excursions. They have a migration background and at least B1-level German language skills. It is important that they do not assume independent pedagogical responsibility, but rather act as bridges between the kindergarten, the children, and the parents.

To ensure the quality and traceability of the measures, the deployment planning, the tasks of the SpKM, and the effectiveness must be transparently documented. The support is funded from municipal resources and is limited to a total of 1.1 million euros for 2026. A prerequisite for support is that more than 40% of the families in a kindergarten have a migration or multilingual background.

Kindergarten assistants: Relief for pedagogical staff

In addition to language and culture mediators, the city of Flensburg also supports kindergarten assistants (kindergarten helpers). These assistants take on tasks such as accompanying meals and excursions, supporting group activities, or assisting during transitional situations. The goal is to relieve the pedagogical staff and at the same time improve the individual attention and emotional security of the children.

Support is possible if the facility cares for a sufficient number of children with significant support needs in areas such as cognition or socio-emotional competence. The significant support need must be determined by qualified professionals. The support depends on the number of over-3-year-old groups in the facility. The basic support for each kindergarten is 9.75 weekly hours, and for each additional child with a disability, up to 4.88 hours can be supported. The maximum support is 39 weekly hours per facility.

Kindergarten assistants must have at least B1-level German language skills and be willing to attend training sessions. They must not assume independent pedagogical responsibility, but are directly integrated into the daily kindergarten routine. The support is applied for through a digital application process on the city's website and is limited to the budget of 1.1 million euros.

Criticism and challenges from practice

Despite the positive objectives, there was criticism of the new support strategy in public discussions and in the consultation process. Some kindergartens pointed out that the calculation of support hours leads to unequal distribution between large and small kindergartens. Suggestions for improvement were made, for example, to calculate support per standard group rather than per facility.

In addition, the high administrative effort was criticized, especially regarding the documentation of the effects of the measures. Some kindergartens also called for better pay for language and culture mediators, as the current wage (S2-hourly rate) is considered too low. There were also calls for the support of kindergarten administrative assistants to reduce administrative burden.

Outlook: What comes next?

The support of language and culture mediators and kindergarten assistants is an important component of Flensburg's strategy for improving the educational structure and strengthening inclusion and participation. However, the measures have not yet been fully evaluated. In the coming months, the effects will be reviewed based on child-related indicators such as individual attention, well-being, and social participation.

The city of Flensburg will continue to pay attention to feedback from practice and make adjustments if necessary. In the long term, the experience of 2026 could lead to an extension of the support or its expansion to other areas – for example, through the introduction of kindergarten administrative assistants or better funding for language and culture mediators.

Summary

The new support for language and culture mediators and kindergarten assistants in Flensburg marks a clear step towards a more inclusive and high-quality kindergarten care. It addresses not only linguistic and cultural differences but also the specific needs of children in need of additional support. The challenges from practice, however, show that there is still room for improvement. With an open attitude towards criticism and a focus on the effects of the measures, Flensburg can set a good example in this area.