Law on the hessian child and youth welfare code passed, information portal hesse

Hesse family minister Stefan Grüttner: "This clears the way for further quality improvement and exemption from contributions in kindergartens in Hesse". Municipalities can submit their applications promptly!

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On the occasion of the adoption of the law on the Hessian Child and Youth Welfare Code, the Hessian family minister, Stefan Grüttner, said on Thursday in Wiesbaden: “This clears the way for further quality improvements in Hessian institutions and for exemption from contributions for all kindergarten children from three years to school. The rule is: quality up – contributions down! This is how we support parents in their desire to combine family and work. Now it is up to the municipalities responsible for childcare to submit their applications and to call up the state funds for the exemption from contributions, ”the minister said.

Leave free of charge six hours a day

With the support of the state government, the Hessian cities and municipalities will be able to grant six hours a day free of charge in all three kindergarten years. “By investing 440 million euros in the 2018/19 double budget for the exemption alone, we are relieving the Hessian families in Hesse. Overall, we are investing around 1.5 billion euros in childcare in a double household. ”

Analogous to the systematic for the third kindergarten year, which has been free of charge for five hours a day for ten years now, the state pays the municipalities from August for the exemption in all three kindergarten years per child registered in the municipality and 135.60 euros per month. In the third year, the exemption from contributions will be expanded from five to six hours. Grüttner was confident with regard to the applications from the municipalities: "I think that the municipalities – as in the third year of kindergarten – in the sense of family-friendly action, will all apply for this state subsidy for freedom from contributions."

Average value of the contributions collected

The amount of around 136 euros was determined on the basis of an analysis by the Hessen agency and is the average of the collected posts in Hessen. "The parents only pay for the times that go beyond the six non-contributory hours, ie longer childcare times," said Grüttner. There is no need for a municipality or sponsor, if, for example, four hours of childcare are offered beforehand, and the state support does not entail any need to change the established childcare times. If this is the case, it is a decision of the municipality responsible for childcare, which has nothing to do with the system of exemption from contributions. For the application for the extended state funding from August 1, 2018, the corresponding legally binding assurance of the cities and municipalities with regard to the exemption from contributions is sufficient. As a result, amendments to the articles of association are not required at the beginning of the exemption from contributions.

“With the dynamization of funds, we will continue to meet the municipalities. At the beginning of the month, the state government agreed with them to make the amount of 135.60 euros dynamic from 2020. An annual increase of two percent is then planned, ”said the Minister of Family Affairs.

Investment in quality

“At the same time, we continue to invest in quality. Here we support the responsible municipalities by gradually increasing the quality flat rate. We will make an additional 12 million euros available for quality in 2018, an additional 37 million euros in 2019 and finally an additional 50 million euros from 2020, ”emphasized Grüttner. In the funding year 2017, over 97 percent of the sponsored children received additional support with the so-called quality flat rate. This means that an increase in this flat rate has an impact in almost all institutions.

Every day care center that works according to the principles of the education and upbringing plan (BEP) currently receives the above-mentioned quality flat rate. The special day care package also provides special support for daycare providers to support language education and support all children in the day care center to promote their health social, cultural and intercultural competencies, the educational partnership with parents and for networking the day care facility in the social area. Specialist advice that advises day care centers according to the BEP or focus day care centers is also funded by the state.

Orientation and process quality promoted in the elementary area

Hessen has also used a whole range of measures to promote orientation and process quality in the elementary sector with considerable resources. The BEP has been a recognized educational framework for quality development and quality assurance in the elementary area since 2004. In this context, the state has a structure to support the quality development process in childcare. There is a free advanced training offer for daycare providers. The state has been offering free advanced training courses for specialists, teachers and day carers since 2007. So far, more than 56,000 specialists have been trained. Specifically, there are 14 advanced training modules that have been offered for several days since 2016. In addition, there are targeted offers for management – the management and specialist advice in the elementary and primary areas to specifically support them with their BEP consulting mandate.

Grüttner concluded: “We have always promised that there will be a further reduction in the fees for kindergartens as soon as this is affordable and compatible with the budget. I am pleased that the passage of the law now clears the way for free contributions with the passage of the law and that we continue to invest in quality at the same time. As soon as the law is published, the municipalities can submit their applications for state funds. With 440 million euros alone for the exemption from contributions, we relieve the parents and support the municipalities responsible for childcare in their task. ”

Applications for state funding can be made as soon as the law is published. The point of contact for this is the RP Kassel.