Day care

Child day care is a collective term for all forms of care for children outside the family.

Concept and objectives

In Switzerland, the term outside the family day care or family day care complementary is used so that a conceptual distinction between the traditional care of the children by the mothers or fathers is guaranteed at home. In Austria, is also the term " childcare " usual.

As a child day care to supplement the parental education is understood. She has a double task; on the one hand it aims to promote the development and education of children, on the other hand allow the employment of parents. The two aspects, educational institution and Bewahranstalt to be shaped the historical development of the kindergarten and were often viewed as opposites, which could be expressed in different devices for different social classes. Today, both aspects are considered as a unit, which are suspended in the triad of education, training and support. The OECD report on the politics of early childhood care and education in the Federal Republic of Germany from 2004 highlights these socio-educational profile emerged as characteristic of the German child day care; a characterization that may apply to Austria and Switzerland also:

"For the educator who works with the whole child, the elements of the original German pedagogy concept care and education are closely linked. There are actually inseparable activities in their daily work. These are not separate areas that need to be put together, but interrelated parts of a child's life. "

Includes child day care, usually with the exception of education, in the boarding school and the children's home:

• Nurseries
• Kindergartens / day nurseries
• Daycare
• After-school care
• Playgroups
• Child day care at a day care person ( Nanny / day father)
• Lunch tables
• All-day schools / day schools
• Days holiday

Of child day care facilities are set up and supported by state, municipal and independent providers. Traditionally, daycare is also a field of activity for church and charitable organizations.

Child Day Care people are taught in the context of operational measures to reconcile work and family life to parents who are professionally conditioned absent or also search for a home to care for a sick child.

National

European Union: Barcelona targets

The European Council in March 2002 at its meeting in Barcelona two goals, which were known as the Barcelona targets. Member States should

• " Remove barriers that prevent women in participating in the labor force " and
• " Strive, taking into account the demand for childcare facilities and in line with national patterns of provision, to provide childcare by 2010 to provide childcare places available for at least 90% of children between three years old and the mandatory school age and at least 33% of children under three years'.

These objectives are part of the European growth and jobs strategy. They are intended to increase the employment rate of young parents and contribute to gender equality. The European Commission confirmed in its " Roadmap for equality between women and men ( 2006-10 ) " that they support the achievement of the Barcelona targets. In a report dated 3 October 2008, the Commission criticized the high price of day care for children and their failure to adapt to the needs of parents who were working or had atypical working hours full time. The Commission stressed at the same time that the quality of childcare facilities should be increased. To this end, belong also improved training, higher social status and better pay for care staff.

Germany

In Germany as a child day care publicly organized and financed promotion of children in institutions in which they reside for part of the day or all day and be encouraged in groups, or family day care, respectively. Children are those who are not yet 14 years old. The daycare is part of the Children and Youth Services and is not, as in some other countries, part of the school or health care. Their legal basis they found in § § 22 et seq of the said SGB Child and Youth Services Act VIII of the Federation and in the national implementing legislation. The Daycare laws of countries regulate the federal law instances not covered or determine general federal law provisions closer. A comprehensive overview offer the German Education Server and the German Youth Institute: Number of the 2005

Child day care includes to § 22 SGB VIII upbringing, education and care of children in institutions ( daycare ) or in day care ( Childminder ) with regard to the social, emotional, physical and mental development of the child into a responsible and socially competent person. It aims to support and complement the education in the family and help parents to be able to better reconcile work and parenting together.

Since 1996, according to § 24 paragraph 1 sentence 1 SGB VIII children from 3 years up to Schuleinritt a legal right to attend a day care center ( kindergarten ). By the summer of 2013, the funding program will also be expanded for children under three stages according to § 24a SGB VIII before from 1 August 2013 every child with the age of one year to school age are legally entitled to promotion in a nursery or in day care will have. Whether a claim is made on community-based attending a day care facility, is controversial.

In the transitional period should be encouraged especially those under three years of children whose parents work or occupational activity begin or who are studying or in training or further education. Moreover, the support of public youth welfare are required to hold a needs space for small children and for school-age children up to 13 years without so an individual legal claim would be connected to a place. The actual possibility for school or toddler age to get a place in day care, in many areas is still extremely low. Only in the eastern states and major cities in the West, there is already a significant extent also places for younger and older children.

As a result of discussions about school performance German pupils ( PISA ), the early childhood education came increasingly into focus. The resulting since 2003 education plans of the states are an expression of the effort to improve early education in child day care and strengthen - but without giving up the right to a holistic promote the development of the child.

At Daycare laws of the countries see also the article: Bavarian children education and care law - Children's Assistance Act ( Berlin) - Law on day care centers for children (Lower Saxony) - Act on early education and support of children (NRW)

Austria

In Austria, the regulation of the kindergarten and after-school system falls under the exclusive jurisdiction of the provinces. In addition, the childminder beings as well as the care of infants partially in child welfare law, partly regulated in special child care or day care laws. It follows that apart from training requirements for qualified personnel no Austria -wide quality standards apply. In the various laws and regulations of the federal states, however, grant requirements, for example, size and equipment of the premises, group size, qualifications of supervisors / inside, regulated child care facilities. The operation of a child care facility or activity as a Nanny / father - requiring official authorization.

Switzerland

In Switzerland, there are numerous variations in addition to the public organized and financed by private individuals, clubs, associations, businesses and churches forms of child day care.

The day care centers, day nurseries and day schools require a permit, the gaming groups in most cantons not. The laws and regulations are very different from canton to canton.

The child day care has increasingly become an equality- relevant political issue, whereas previously the social need of day care for children in availing themselves of parents in mind.