Free daycare places in Berlin and Brandenburg: A new choice for parents

Free daycare places in Berlin and Brandenburg: A new choice for parents

In a surprising turn, the daycare centers in Berlin and Brandenburg have a variety of empty places. A few years ago this was unthinkable; The situation now offers more flexibility for parents. However, the practical everyday life, as it turns out, is more complicated than it seems at first glance.

A decline in births paired with the massive expansion of the care infrastructure has led to this oversupply in daycare places. The Education Administration of Berlin reports that a total of 1,565 places for own companies and 7,215 at daycare centers will be vacant. In Brandenburg, on the other hand, there is no central overview of the daycare availability, but municipal feedback provide a clear picture of the situation on site.

The changed image of waiting lists

The development of free places is remarkable. Around 1,900 places were not occupied in Potsdam on the 1st June, while almost 300 places were empty in Schwedt (Uckermark). It is interesting that the free capacities do not necessarily reflect availability for all age groups. This is also emphasized by the press office of the city of Schwedt, which points out that there is often a high capacity utilization, especially in the crèche and after-school area.

In the city of Brandenburg (Havel), a total of 553 free places in children's cribs and kindergartens are registered for August 2024, which corresponds to an increase of almost 130 free places compared to the previous year. Andreas Griebel, chairman of the German Red Cross in the district, describes that the utilization of his nine daycare centers is around 87 percent. This development is a direct consequence of the need at that time, which made new facilities necessary. Today, however, the number of children is falling, which is pushing waiting for up to 40 children who were once the order of the day.

variety for parents, challenges for specialists

For parents in Brandenburg, the current situation means that you can find a daycare center for your child much more easily, although the situation can vary greatly depending on the municipality. Babette Sperle, spokeswoman for the umbrella organization of Berlin's children's and school shops, also underlines the change in the capital. The situation was more relaxed compared to earlier years, even though it warns at the same time: "The numbers are one thing, reality the other."

Some districts in Berlin, such as Neukölln, have significantly fewer daycare places compared to other parts of the city, whereas there are more places in the regions such as Pankow, which are strong. This gives parents the opportunity to select a facility that best suits their needs. Nevertheless, the availability remains problematic in some neighborhoods, which makes it difficult for a balanced access to care options.

The underlying reason for the large number of free places is the decline in birth rates. Last year, only 34,000 children were born in Berlin, compared to over 40,000 in 2018. In Brandenburg, the number fell from 19,881 to 15,885 births in the same period. At the same time, expanded daycare places were created as an answer to the need, which has led to the current oversupply. This strategic development was wanted to meet the increasing requirements.

An important topic, which also affects the future of the facilities, is the staff ceiling. Both the German Red Cross and other institutions are worried about working conditions, as many educators prefer increasingly flexible working hours. The increased frequency of illness in the industry could also lead to the extensive provision of five-day care no longer guaranteed in the future.

Overall, there is a slow change in the daycare system, which must take a look at both the needs of the parents and the ability of the facilities. Despite the current abundance of places, it remains exciting how the situation will develop in the coming years and what measures are taken to ensure both the quality of care and the working conditions.