Child day care

An attractive flexible form of childcare

Child day care is a form of childcare in a small, manageable group with a permanent carer (child day carer).

Child day care is an attractive and flexible form of childcare, particularly for the very youngest children, due to the family atmosphere and close relationship, which also makes it easier to combine family and work. This form of care offers a safe and secure environment due to the possibility of intensive attention.

Frequently asked questions

At what age are children looked after in child day care?

Children up to the age of 3 are cared for in a traditional day care centre. For children from the age of one up to the age of three, there is a legal entitlement to childcare in a day care centre or in a day care facility in accordance with § 24 Para. 2 SGB VIII.

Under certain conditions, such as the parents' employment, childcare in a day care centre is possible before the child reaches the age of one.

As a rule, a childminder looks after up to five children in their own household. Childcare in a large day care centre (a group of day carers with a maximum of 9 children under the age of 3) or in other suitable premises are other models of child day care.

Under certain conditions, children up to the age of 14 can also be cared for in day care centres in addition to day care centres, schools or open all-day schools.

What tasks do childminders have?

Childminders are qualified to educate, care for and bring up children; they have at least one qualification based on the so-called DJI curriculum.

They accompany the children in their development. They offer a wide range of educational opportunities that also promote the children's social and linguistic development in a holistic way. They plan educational programmes and enable the children to make their own experiences and get to know the world.

In child day care, individual support and encouragement according to the inclinations and abilities of the individual child are combined in a special way with joint education and upbringing in a small group.

What do parents have to pay for child day care?

As a child and youth welfare service, child day care is no more expensive for parents than a place in a day care centre. The so-called parental contribution is based on the annual income, age of the child and the amount of time spent in childcare.

If siblings attend the open all-day school, a day care centre or a day care centre at the same time, parents only pay one contribution.

-> Here you can find the fee regulations for child day care (pdf)

Note: Day carers receive a fee from the Youth and Family Department for their childcare services and material costs, among other things. Day carers are not permitted to charge parents any fees, with the exception of an appropriate contribution for meals, toiletries etc.

How do I find the right day care centre?

Around 300 childcare places are offered by around 100 childminders in the city of Bocholt. The City of Bocholt's specialist counselling service arranges a childcare place in personal meetings that are as tailored as possible to individual needs and wishes.

Appointments can be made by telephone or a written application can be submitted by post or email to the responsible counselling service.

You can download the form here:

Application for a childcare place

During a childcare relationship, the specialist counsellor remains the contact person and accompanies and supports both the parents and the childminders.

How do I become a childminder?

The Youth and Family Department of the City of Bocholt is looking for motivated people who are interested in working as a childminder.

If you enjoy working with children, can offer a family environment, are flexible, responsible and co-operative, we would like to recruit you as a childminder.

Child day care offers an attractive way to combine family and career. As part of this self-employed activity, you will have the opportunity to organise your working hours freely within a coherent concept.

To find out more about the opportunities and prospects of this varied field of work and the entry requirements for qualifying as a childminder, please contact the specialist advice centre. In a personal discussion, you can find out more about the remuneration or the aptitude assessment procedure, among other things.