Child day care

There are various forms of child day care:

Child day care can take place either in the qualified child carer's home or in other suitable premises. A childminder can look after up to five other children at the same time. A care licence must be issued in advance by the responsible youth welfare office. Day carers are generally self-employed.

However, if the care takes place on the premises of the legal guardians, the childminder does not require a care licence. However, a qualification is required if it is publicly subsidised child day care.

A special form of child day care is the large day care centre. Here, up to ten children are looked after by two to three childminders. A childminder can also be permanently employed by an organisation.

The basic prerequisite for caring for children at home or in other suitable premises is obtaining a valid care licence. This is required if care is provided

• outside the parental home,
• more than 15 hours a week for longer than three months and
• for a fee

takes place.

The care licence must be applied for from the responsible public youth welfare organisation, i.e. the youth welfare office (in accordance with § 43 SGB VIII). It authorises the care of up to five other children present at the same time. The licence is limited to five years and can be extended after expiry and examination by the specialist advisory service

At federal level:
Child day care is regulated in SGB VIII. On 10 June 2021, SGB VIII was reformed with the entry into force of the Child and Youth Strengthening Act (KJSG). The federal laws are implemented in practice by the federal states and local authorities.

At state/municipal level:
The legal amendments to SGB VIII assign a new status to child day care as an equivalent childcare service in accordance with the educational mandate of the Saarland education programme for child day care facilities. The Saarland education programme therefore also serves as a basis for the work of childminders.

The legal regulations can be found in the Saarland Childcare and Education Act Implementation Act, in the Ordinance on the Organisation of Child Day Care and in the Saarpfalz District Statutes.

If you have any further questions, please contact the relevant staff at the Youth Welfare Office.

If you need childcare for your child, you can apply for subsidised child day care at your local youth welfare office.

The following guidelines apply: Since 1 August 2013, there has been a legal entitlement to a childcare place from the age of one until the child's third birthday, which can be used both in daycare centres and in childminders. This is independent of whether the parents are working, attending school or have completed vocational training or university education.

Children aged between eight weeks and their first birthday can take advantage of subsidised child day care if their parents are absent from school, work or study, or if their parents receive benefits for integration into employment as defined in SGB II.

From the age of three, the child is transferred to a daycare centre. If the parents work beyond the opening hours of a daycare centre or school, there is the option of having the children looked after by a qualified childminder during the "off-peak hours".

The following certificates must be submitted to the Youth Welfare Office:

• the application for subsidised child day care,
• a medical clearance certificate for support in child day care
• proof of a measles vaccination,
• a childcare contract under private law concluded in advance with the childminder.

If you have any questions about placement and care, our staff in the child day care department will be happy to provide you with information.

• Family-based form of childcare with a permanent caregiver in their household or in rented premises,
• Individual and flexible childcare times,
• Hourly billing of childcare times,
• Substitution models in the event of illness of the childminder,
• Possibility of care in the parent's own household as an alternative,
• Coverage by supplementary care/off-peak care outside the opening hours of day-care centres and schools is possible.

An application for subsidised child day care is only possible if the care is provided by a qualified child day carer. The day care allowance always includes a subsidised share from the state and the district.

The maximum cost contribution for legal guardians for full-time childcare in day care is 140.00 euros (as of 01/08/2024). For each child who is looked after five days a week between 11.00 a.m. and 1.30 p.m., a flat-rate lunch fee of 25.20 euros per month and child is payable.

In subsequent years, the contribution is to be adjusted to the planned reductions in parental contributions in Saarland's daycare centres.

In contrast to childcare in a day-care centre, the cost contribution is calculated by the hour.

Depending on the income situation of the parents/guardians, an application can be made for a reduction or waiver of the cost contribution.

The employees of the economic youth welfare department of the district youth welfare office provide comprehensive information about the financial support options for the care of day-care children in a day-care centre.

The Saarpfalz district offers a substitution option in Saarland if a childminder falls ill. It should be noted that the legal guardians must provide a declaration of consent in advance. The possibility of substitution must also be stated in the childcare contract.

A "mobile day carer" employed by the Saarpfalz district offers to stand in for another day carer in their home or in their own tested and suitable premises if they are ill. She visits the cooperating day care centres, gets to know the children and is in regular contact with them. As part of her visits, she offers special educational activities, such as a puppet theatre performance.

In addition, there is the possibility of substitution within the framework of so-called "Bob-Teams". Here, some childminders have joined together in pairs or threes as a "Bob Team". Joint meetings are held regularly so that mutual substitution is also possible if a childminder is ill. This form of substitution in the event of illness of a childminder must also be listed in the childcare contract and requires a declaration of consent from the legal guardians in advance.

The Youth Welfare Office staff responsible for the child day carer qualification course will conduct an initial assessment of the applicant's suitability during a personal interview.

The following personal requirements are expected:

• Experience and pleasure in dealing with children, especially children under 3,
• Appreciative behaviour towards children and parents,
• Internalisation of the principle of non-violent parenting in accordance with §1631 Para. 2 BGB,
• Physical and mental health and resilience,
• Willingness to work as a childminder for a longer period of time,
• Personal characteristics such as reliability, sense of responsibility, organisational skills, balance and empathy,
• Willingness to question your own behaviour,
• Educational ability,
• Willingness to undergo further training and actively engage with technical issues,
• Willingness to enter into an educational partnership with parents,
• Willingness to cooperate continuously with the youth welfare office's counselling service,
• Willingness to develop your own professional profile,
• Willingness to implement the Saarland education programme.

• Minimum age: 18 years,
• Detailed curriculum vitae,
• School education: at least secondary school leaving certificate,
• Certificate of the highest school or vocational qualification
• Good written and spoken German (at least language certificate B 2).

The premises in the daycare centre must be clean, bright, attractive and friendly. In addition to sufficient space to play and move around, the provision of sleeping and retreat options is also a prerequisite for suitability. The selected rooms must be stimulating and equipped with age-appropriate and development-promoting play and learning materials.

A suitable outdoor area is also necessary for the healthy development of children (e.g. garden, playground, park). A pleasant atmosphere and a smoke-free environment are essential. Great importance is attached to a safe environment (from the sockets to the garden pond).

If animals are kept in the day carer's household, their compatibility with the children in their care must also be assessed. Consultation with the specialist counsellor is essential beforehand. In principle, suitable animals can have a positive effect on the children's development. It is important here that the childminder has experience in dealing with animals and demonstrates a responsible attitude.

• Extended police clearance certificate for all adults living in the household
• Persons,
• Medical certificate confirming the mental and physical health of everyone in the household
• living persons of legal age,
• Participation in the "First aid for children" course,
• Measles vaccination (compulsory measles vaccination since March 2020 for all cohorts born from 1 January 1971),
• Successful completion of the day carer qualification course

The basic requirement for working as a childminder is the successful completion of the qualification course. The course offered by the Saarpfalz district youth welfare office costs 300.00 euros per participant. When the first child from the Saarpfalz district starts daycare, 150.00 euros of the cost contribution will be refunded.

The qualification takes place within the framework of the "Competence-oriented Qualification Handbook for Child Day Care" (QHB) with 160 teaching units (TU) of activity-preparatory basic qualification. The courses currently take place two days a week for four hours over a period of around six months. The qualification includes a forty-hour internship in a day care centre and in a day care facility. It also includes 100 self-study units, the creation of your own pedagogical concept and the preparation of an individual business plan.

The subsequent 140-lesson in-service training programme offers childminders close professional support and in-depth study of relevant topics as well as intensive opportunities for exchange and reflection at the beginning of their work.

In addition, a "First Aid for Children" course must be completed before starting work, which must be refreshed every three years.

Childminders must complete at least 15 teaching units of further training each year in order to continue their professional development.

In order to complete the required teaching units, the childminder is granted two additional days off.

The youth welfare office also offers various training courses

Child day care is an alternative to employment for people from educational professions (e.g. educators, day carers) as well as for people with a different professional background who enjoy working with children.

This job is particularly suitable for young mothers and fathers, as it can be done at home and therefore also allows them to look after their own children.

The decision to work as a childminder in private rooms should be made in agreement with the partner and their own children, as the future daycare children and their parents will also be there or have access to it.

If you are interested, the staff responsible for child day care will provide you with comprehensive information about the qualification course and the work of a child day carer.

In the case of publicly funded child day care, the remuneration is based on the provisions of the Saarland Ordinance on the Organisation of Child Day Care. Currently, a childminder receives €5.55 per hour for one child. After five years of working as a childminder or with relevant professional experience as an educator or child carer, the childminder receives €6 per hour per child. A lump sum of €11.55 per child per month is paid for preparation and follow-up time.

Surcharges may be granted for special childcare hours:

• In the case of care with special care times
• before 7:00 a.m. and after 6:00 p.m. as well as on weekends and public holidays,
• in the case of increased educational or care needs,
• with a low number of hours and hourly care,
• if there is another special need identified by the local youth welfare organisation and
• an additional ten euros per night for overnight care.

From the start of childcare, the costs for accident insurance with the Berufsgenossenschaft für Gesundheit und Wohlfahrt (BGW) are borne in full by the Saarpfalz-Kreis youth welfare office.

The youth welfare office also covers half of the costs for appropriate pension, health and long-term care insurance on application if the necessary requirements are met, such as the categorisation of child day care as a secondary occupation.

Every childminder is entitled to four weeks' holiday per calendar year. The daycare allowance continues to be paid during this time. In the event of illness, the daycare allowance is paid for up to six weeks per calendar year if a medical certificate is submitted.

As a self-employed activity, child day care offers tax benefits. Please contact the tax office responsible for you.

The above information corresponds to the status as of 04/2025