12 Questions About Full-Day School
Everything You Need to Know About the Right to Full-Day Care at a Glance
- Starting August 1, first-graders are entitled to full-day care. In the vast majority of cases, this entitlement is fulfilled at schools (“Open Full Day”).
- All-day care is a voluntary program and requires registration.
- The implementation of the legal entitlement to full-day care is the responsibility of the respective municipality. Parent fees, hours of operation (beyond the specified time frame), and vacation policies may vary depending on where you live.
- The entitlement to full-day care also applies during school vacations. However, the OGS is permitted to close for up to 4 weeks during the school breaks.
- Anyone who is unable to secure a full-day spot in an OGS can submit a written request to the local youth welfare office to assert their entitlement.
- The Joint Decree on “Open All-Day Schools and Extracurricular All-Day and Supervision Programs in Primary Education” sets forth the regulations governing open all-day programs in primary education.
12 Questions Parents in North Rhine-Westphalia Ask About the Right to Full-Day School
Starting August 1, 2026, North Rhine-Westphalia will have a legal entitlement to full-day care. This entitlement will initially apply to all first-grade students and will then be expanded annually. You may be wondering what this means in practice, how much full-day care costs, or what happens during school breaks. We’ve compiled answers to the most common questions from parents for you.
1. When does the right to full-day care take effect, and for which children?
Starting August 1, 2026, all children in North Rhine-Westphalia entering first grade will be entitled to full-day care.
This entitlement will expand by one grade level each year:
- 2026–27 school year: Grade 1
- 2027–28 school year: Grades 1 and 2
- School Year 2028/29: Grades 1 through 3
- School Year 2029/30: Grades 1 through 4
The legal basis for this entitlement is the federal Full-Day Education Act (GaFöG).
2. Will my child then be required to attend full-day care?
No, full-day care is a voluntary program. There is no requirement for full-day care in North Rhine-Westphalia. Full-day care in NRW is intended as a full-day childcare and educational program.
As parents, you decide for yourselves whether to apply for a spot for your child. If you do not wish to take advantage of this option, your child will not participate in all-day care.
Important: When you register your child to participate in the OGS’s extracurricular programs, you enter into a care agreement. This agreement is binding for the entire school year and generally requires regular participation in the programs, ideally to the fullest extent possible. Withdrawal is only possible in exceptional cases. Participation in regular educational activities outside of school (e.g., in a sports club or music school) as well as individual personal commitments (e.g., family celebrations) remain possible by arrangement.
3. What is the so-called OGS? Is it the same as full-day school?
In North Rhine-Westphalia, the legal right to full-day care is generally fulfilled through the Open All-Day School (OGS).
OGS provides care before school starts and after school ends, if necessary; lunch; study periods or homework assistance; and a wide range of educational and recreational activities in the afternoon, often in collaboration with partners such as sports clubs or cultural organizations.
Only registered children participate in the OGS’s extracurricular activities; all others go home after school. In addition to the OGS, some schools also offer shorter, more limited care programs. Please contact the school or your local youth welfare office for further information.
Section 3 of the Joint Decree “Open All-Day Schools and Extracurricular All-Day and Supervision Programs in Primary Education” outlines the characteristics of an open all-day school based on a shared educational philosophy between the school and youth welfare services.
Local municipalities decide for themselves how to fulfill this legal entitlement—whether through the OGS or a child and youth welfare facility. However, nearly all elementary schools in North Rhine-Westphalia are open all-day schools.
4. When does childcare begin, and when do I need to pick up my child?
The open all-day program generally runs until 4:00 p.m. on all school days, and in some cases even longer. Some schools offer additional care during off-peak hours, for example, before the official start of classes at 7 a.m. or after 4 p.m. However, this may incur additional costs. It is important to note that your child is required to participate in the OGS program daily until 3 p.m. Exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis, but participation is generally expected every day.
The specific regulations are set forth in the OGS decree or in the care agreement that you sign when you register your child.
5. How much does a full-day spot in the OGS cost?
Participation in the extracurricular activities offered as part of the open all-day program is not free. The monthly fees are set by the local municipalities and may vary depending on where you live. The fees are based on the parents’ annual income, which provides relief for low-income families. Those who earn less pay less. In some cases, they may even pay nothing at all.
There are also costs for lunch. Additional fees may be charged for vacation programs.
You can find out the exact fees for your child by contacting your city or the school district.
6. Our income isn't enough. Can our child still attend full-day school?
If you are unable to pay the fee in full or in part with your own funds, you can apply to the Youth Welfare Office for a fee reduction.
7. Does the right to full-day care also apply during school breaks?
Yes, the legal entitlement explicitly includes school vacation periods. However, closures totaling up to 4 weeks per school year during vacations are permitted. Vacation policies vary by municipality. Holiday programs can take place as part of the OGS, but the municipality may also offer other holiday programs. Regulations regarding where holiday care takes place also vary. It can take place at the child’s own school or at another central location. Sometimes, vacation programs offered by open all-day schools are conducted jointly for several schools at a single school location.
Check with the school district to find out how closure periods are handled at your child’s school and where the care takes place.
8. My child will remain in first grade of the school entry phase for another year. Is he or she still eligible for full-day instruction?
Yes. Every child who starts school in August 2026 and is in first grade is eligible for full-day care. The determining factor is the grade level, not the year of birth.
9. What happens if there are no full-day spots available?
Local public youth welfare agencies (Jugendamt) are legally required to provide services tailored to individual needs. This means that if no spot is available—for example, in an open all-day school—you can submit a written request to the responsible public youth welfare agency (Youth Welfare Office). In the event of a dispute, this right can be enforced in court.
10. My child is starting third grade. When does our legal right to full-day care take effect?
The legal entitlement is phased in by grade level. For third-graders, a guaranteed entitlement will not take effect until the 2028–29 school year. However, this does not mean that your child cannot still attend the OGS. Many municipalities already provide enough spots for all children even before the legal entitlement is fully established. Therefore, please check with your local municipality.
11. My child attends a special education school. What are the policies there regarding full-day programs?
The regulations described above apply to open all-day special education schools. However, many special education schools in North Rhine-Westphalia also operate as mandatory all-day schools. This means that the all-day program is part of the regular school day. All students are required to participate in classes and the full-day program. Therefore, no separate registration for the full-day program is required.
12. Does the legal right to full-day schooling also apply to children in special education schools?
Yes, children at special education schools are also entitled to full-day care. Many special education schools are mandatory full-day schools. This means that classes, support programs, and other activities take place throughout the day. However, the hours at mandatory full-day special education schools are not sufficient to fulfill this legal entitlement.
With the “Ganztag Plus” support program, the state of North Rhine-Westphalia will provide additional funding starting in the 2026–2027 school year to create extra care and educational programs, for example in the afternoons or during school breaks. These supplementary programs help fulfill the legal entitlement to full-day care. Registration is required for programs offered through “Ganztag Plus,” and parental fees may apply. Questions and answers about the program can be found in the FAQs on “Ganztag Plus” on the NRW Education Portal.
Where can we get help and advice?
The first place to turn for questions about care hours, fees, and the registration process is your child’s school, the respective OGS provider, or the school district.
The local youth welfare office is responsible for ensuring that legal entitlements are upheld. If you are unable to secure a spot for your child even though they are entitled to one, you must submit a written request to the youth welfare office.
You Might Also Be Interested In
More Information Links for Further Reading
