Increased Need for Childcare Spots
In the city of Nordhorn, the shortage of skilled workers is not the only issue causing concern. The demand for childcare spaces in daycare centers is also exceeding expectations, according to recent reports.
The registration process for childcare spaces this year is ongoing, and the numbers are already surpassing those of previous years. The demand for childcare spaces in Nordhorn is significantly higher than projected, with around 300 children under the age of 3 currently on waiting lists for a kindergarten spot.
The situation is particularly acute for children over 3 years old, as there are around 130 missing spots in Nordcare daycare centers. To address this issue, the city administration is working intensively to identify further locations and expansion possibilities for child daycare.
In a bid to alleviate the shortage, the city council has given the green light to build a new large facility with three nursery groups and two regular groups in the Deegfeld area. Construction is scheduled to begin in January 2019, with the new facility named "Großanlage Deegfeld." Another large facility, planned to include three kindergarten and two regular groups, is scheduled to begin construction in 2024.
Councilwoman Marlies Schomakers attributes the increased registration numbers to the planned statewide parental contribution exemption for the first and second kindergarten year, as well as the fee reduction in Nordhorn for both kindergarten and nursery spots. However, a recent amendment to the Lower Saxony School Act may further reduce available kindergarten spots, as it allows parents of children reaching their sixth birthday between July 1 and September 30 to delay school entry by a year.
Despite the efforts to expand child daycare, the situation remains uncertain until May of this year. The city of Nordhorn has invested heavily in the expansion of child daycare for children under 3 years old over the past five years, doubling the number of nursery spots from around 180 to around 360. However, the demand for childcare spaces in Nordhorn this year is still significantly higher than expected.
Read also:
- India's Sports Revolution: Bhubaneswar, Chennai, and Ahmedabad Pioneering Nation's Athletic Makeover
- "Blood tests could potentially enhance the accuracy of malaria diagnoses in research circumstances"
- The Dominion of Longevity
- Differentiating between a cold and allergies can ease respiratory issues in children
