Inclusive child daycare in NRW
Every child has the right to belong.
When a child with a disability is to be offered daycare, many parents are faced with very practical questions: Where will our child find the right place to grow, learn and belong? Are there inclusive services nearby? In which daycare center is our child in good hands? Who will support us in our search? The good news is that in North Rhine-Westphalia there are numerous ways, services and people who can support you and your child on the way to inclusive daycare. Here you can find out how to find a suitable childcare facility and what support options are available.
What does "inclusive daycare" actually mean?
All children - with or without special needs - have the right to childcare. In NRW, there are various forms of care that are specially tailored to the needs of children with disabilities. The aim is always to play, learn and live together. Specialists, special needs teachers and integration assistants work hand in hand to ensure that every child feels comfortable and is supported according to their abilities.
Forms of inclusive child daycare in NRW
If your child has a disability, you have a choice of different options:
-
Inclusive childcare in day care (care with a childminder)
For children who feel more comfortable in a small group, care with a childminder with the appropriate qualifications can be ideal. Inclusion in child day care is constantly being expanded in NRW and offers a protected, family environment.
-
Inclusive care in regular daycare centers
In most daycare facilities in NRW, children with and without disabilities are supported together. Smaller groups or additional specialist staff provide individual support. Playing and learning together not only promotes the development of each child, but also helps to prevent exclusion from the outset.
-
Special needs daycare facilities for children with special educational needs
Sometimes inclusive care is not possible - for example, if special equipment is needed. In such cases, a special educational daycare facility can be considered. These are specifically geared towards certain needs, e.g. mental or physical disabilities or speech disorders. The groups are smaller and the care is very individualized.
-
Combined daycare centers (with regular and special education groups)
Some facilities combine the best of both worlds: inclusive groups and special educational groups under one roof. This means that every child can receive exactly the support they need - with more specialist staff and plenty of room for interaction.
Tips for finding suitable offers
- Every local authority in NRW offers childcare facilities. The best way to research this is via the Kita-Finder on the KiTa.NRW portal or via the registration or pre-registration systems in your youth welfare office district. With just a few clicks, you can find information on daycare facilities as well as the addresses of specialist advice and placement offices for daycare in North Rhine-Westphalia.
- Ask your local authority directly about what is available locally. Many cities and districts have their own overviews of inclusive childcare services.
- Speak to inclusion advisors or early intervention specialists and ask for their recommendations.
- Talk to other parents. Talking to other affected families is worth its weight in gold. You can find testimonials and tips in regional parent groups, on social media or in self-help groups - directly and honestly.
- After narrowing down your selection, contact the childcare providers. For example, call the daycare centers you are considering directly. Arrange a viewing appointment and an interview. Personal contact often reveals very quickly whether a facility suits your child's individual needs.
Daycare assistants
Some children need individual support in everyday life to enable them to participate - for example, if they have a disability, developmental delay or autism. In this case, an individual curative education service in the form of a daycare assistant can be helpful. It helps your child to get dressed, eat, play or participate in group activities, promotes social contact and helps to overcome challenges. The prerequisite is usually a medical diagnosis and an application for integration assistance. To apply for daycare assistance in NRW, an application for integration assistance services must be submitted to the Landschaftsverband, the LWL (Landschaftsverband Westfalen-Lippe) for Westphalia or the LVR (Landschaftsverband Rheinland) for the Rhineland. The needs assessment determines the individual participation needs of a child or young person with a disability.
Funding opportunities and financial assistance
Parents with a disabled child can - depending on their situation - receive financial assistance when it comes to attending daycare. For example:
- Cost coverage for daycare assistance
- Coverage of therapy costs (e.g. speech therapy, occupational therapy)
- Transport costs/transport service
- Exemption from or reduction of contributions for daycare
- Tax concessions
A comprehensive overview can be found on the page "Financial assistance for parents with a disabled child" on the Familienportal.NRW.
Where can we find help and advice?
Local advice services of the cities and districts: To find the right place to go, you can use the search option on the portal of the Ministry of Labor, Health and Social Affairs in North Rhine-Westphalia.
At EUTB Fachstelle (Ergänzende unabhängige Teilhabeberatung) you can get free advice and help with applications or finding a childcare place.
The association "Gemeinsam Leben, Gemeinsam Lernen NRW" offers parents advice on the inclusion of children and young people with disabilities by phone and email.
The Koordinierungsstelle der Kompetenzzentren Selbstbestimmt Leben (KSL) NRW networks and provides advice for parents with disabilities in their area.
Many municipalities in NRW bundle their services and contact addresses relating to family life (advice centers, parent-child courses, leisure activities and much more) on a special Internet portal. You can find the link to this service for your city or municipality here on our Familienportal.NRW:
Municipal online portals for families
Further information and advice services can also be found via the regional associations:
Landschaftsverband Westfalen-Lippe
Landschaftsverband Rheinland
Further information Links to read more
