“Ferienbetreuung” municipal program – registration and costs

Title:

Holiday childcare (Ferienbetreuung): Looking after children during school holidays – relief for parents and fun for kids

Meta description:

Do you have to work during the school holidays and do not know where your child can stay? Learn all about Ferienbetreuung, the holiday childcare program organized by local authorities in Germany – including how to register, typical fees, and financial support options for families.

Article content:

What is Ferienbetreuung?

Ferienbetreuung is an organized childcare program for children during school holidays (such as the summer or autumn holidays). It is usually organized by:

• local authorities (Stadtverwaltung)

• the Jugendamt (youth welfare office)

• schools or cooperating organisations (e.g. AWO, DRK, Caritas)

• sometimes also by sports clubs (Sportvereine) or youth centres (Jugendzentrum)

The main aim is to support working families who cannot provide childcare at home during the holidays.

Who can take part?

• School-age children (usually from about 6 to 12 years old)

• Some municipalities offer special programs only for primary school (Grundschule) children

• Priority is often given to families in which both parents are working

What kind of activities are offered?

• Daily childcare, often from about 07:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. or 5:00 p.m.

• Snacks or a hot lunch

• Sports, creative activities, arts and crafts, theatre, short excursions

• Sometimes light educational support (e.g. simple homework help)

How do you register?

• Visit the website of the local authority or Jugendamt

• Look for pages titled Ferienbetreuung or Ferienangebote für Kinder (holiday offers for children)

• Fill in the online registration form or a paper application form

• Attach required documents (e.g. employment confirmation from your employer)

• Pay the childcare fee, if applicable

It is recommended to register 4–8 weeks before the holidays start, as places are often limited.

How much does it cost?

• Some municipalities offer free or reduced-fee holiday childcare for low-income families.

• Families who receive benefits from the Jobcenter or Sozialamt can often apply for support through the Bildung und Teilhabe-Paket (education and participation package) to cover childcare costs.

Important notes:

• Participation is voluntary, but very helpful for working parents.

• In many programs, you can choose to book single days or a full week.

• Some programs require children to bring their own items (e.g. sportswear, notebook, water bottle).

Important German terms:

SEO keywords:

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Editorial note:

Our editorial team strives to provide accurate information based on thorough research and consultation of multiple sources. However, errors may occur or certain details may not yet be fully confirmed. The information contained in this article should therefore be viewed as an initial point of reference. For binding and up-to-date information, please always contact the relevant authorities and official institutions.