Kindergarten resumes for a new academic year
Mönchengladbach is making significant strides in expanding childcare and after-school care facilities for the upcoming 2025/2026 kindergarten year. The city has announced the opening of several new kindergarten facilities and the expansion of the Offene Ganztagsschule (OGS) program at elementary schools.
The city has made 2,598 new childcare places available for kindergarten-aged children, and an additional 184 places have been freed up within daycare. This means a total of 3,002 children can be newly admitted to kindergarten care during the 2025/2026 kindergarten year.
Three new kindergarten facilities will open during the kindergarten year at Friedhofstraße, Kochschulstraße, and Ritterstraße. The new facilities at Sittardstraße/Steinmetzstraße and Oberlinstraße have already opened their doors. The planned kindergarten at the Keplerstraße/Römerstraße site is under construction and expected to be completed in 2027.
In addition to the new kindergarten facilities, the city is also expanding its OGS program. A total of 4,700 OGS places will be available, including 4,350 places in 174 OGS groups and an additional 350 places in 14 rhythmized full-day classes. This expansion includes new groups at ten elementary schools and the first-time establishment of some OGS groups in certain schools.
The trend among parents is to choose care for 45 hours per week, which is particularly beneficial for working families with a high demand for reliable daily care. Upon full commissioning of all facilities, the city will reach a significant milestone in childcare provision.
The gradual commissioning of the new facilities will create an additional 220 childcare places for children under three years old and 189 places for children over three years old. The completion of all planned new kindergarten facilities will result in a supply rate of 97.9% for children aged 3 to 6, and 51% for children under 3 during the 2025/2026 kindergarten year.
The city currently has 11,128 children in care and support in various forms, with 606 children under three years old and 26 children over three years old being cared for in daycare. Mönchengladbach appears to be investing heavily in expanding educational infrastructure, with budgets over 47 million euros, indicating ongoing efforts to improve capacity and access to childcare and educational services.
Sources:
[1] City of Mönchengladbach Press Release
[2] Local Newspaper Article
[3] City of Mönchengladbach FAQ Page
[4] City of Mönchengladbach Budget Information
[5] City of Mönchengladbach Education Department Website
The city's investments extend to education-and-self-development, with the expansion of the Offene Ganztagsschule (OGS) program offering 4,700 places, including rhythmized full-day classes, for children in elementary schools. The city aims to support working families with a high demand for reliable daily care, as more parents are choosing care for 45 hours per week.
