All day

The full day makes it easier to combine work and family life

Metin en son güncellendi: 2023-08-24

The all-day program closes the childcare gap

With the start of primary school, many parents are faced with the question of afternoon care for their child. While there is a childcare entitlement during the nursery period, this will not apply to primary school-age children until 2026. Many elementary school in NRW already offer open all-day care or childcare services. Find out here what all-day care has to offer and the benefits of all-day care for children of primary school age.

OGS, school from eight to one, Thirteen Plus: Which concept suits us?

The structure of the all-day program and childcare options can vary from school to school. Find out more on the school website or enquire about the specific offers directly at the elementary school that is suitable for your child or the school authority responsible for the school.

Here is an overview of the various offers:

  1. The open all-day school (OGS)

    North Rhine-Westphalia has a very large number of all-day schools. In the primary school sector, more than 90% of schools are currently open all-day schools, known as OGS. As a rule, children are looked after at school from Monday to Friday from 8.00 am to 4.00 pm, but at least until 3.00 pm. Lunch can usually be booked through the school authority. The school authority or the public youth welfare organization can charge a parental contribution for the OGS.

    An additional contribution can be charged for lunch. You can find out how high the costs are from the school or the school authority responsible for the school. Parents are required to register their child for participation in the all-day program for one year, as children can be optimally supported if their participation is guaranteed on a regular basis.

  2. School from eight to one

    This is reliable supervision in hours when there are no lessons. Please also enquire about this according to your local circumstances.

  3. Thirteen Plus

    In this model, the school offers an afternoon program for children after school. In addition to lunch together, this offer can include homework supervision and various leisure activities - including during the school vacations. As a rule, costs are incurred for the additional care time, depending on the parents' income. The relevant school will provide information about the costs.

Parents should clarify these questions at an early stage

Consider your childcare needs in good time:

  • On what days and at what times is additional childcare desirable?
  • What care times/forms of care are offered at the desired school?
  • What exactly is your work situation? Can you do some of your work from home? Are you flexible in terms of working hours?
  • How does the education and childcare on offer throughout the day suit your individual needs?
  • Are there other elementary school nearby with a more suitable all-day program?
  • How much does all-day care, lunch and any other leisure activities within the care program cost?
  • What optional childcare services are available? For example, can childcare be organized within the family, among friends or with other parents concerned?

Please note: In some schools, all-day childcare places are in high demand. Please register your wishes in good time. Even if you register early, a place in the OGS is currently not guaranteed at some elementary school.

The all-day program offers extended educational and leisure activities

Open all-day schooling is appreciated by many families in NRW. After all, school is more than just a place of learning. School life consisting of lessons and a varied afternoon program can be an enrichment for children and parents. On the one hand, safe and reliable supervision is guaranteed, while on the other, your child benefits from additional support in many areas, varied leisure activities and time spent with friends and classmates.

The range of activities on offer in the all-day program is diverse, allowing children to discover and develop their talents and interests. These include, for example:

  • Cultural and creative activities, for example in cooperation with music and painting schools
  • Sports activities in cooperation with sports clubs
  • Collaborative groups and projects
  • Sufficient free space and free time to play
  • Lunch supervision
  • Homework supervision/study times
  • Individual support for children with learning difficulties and for gifted children

All-day learning has advantages for children and parents

Advantages of all-day schooling at a glance:

  • More time for education

    Children in the OGS have more time to deepen and supplement learning content

    .

  • Broader educational offer

    The all-day program offers an extended range of learning and leisure activities, including science, art, music and sport.

  • More support

    The all-day programs promote the academic success of children through additional offerings.

  • Social development

    Children have more opportunities to make friends, engage with their peers, argue and make up and thus develop social skills.

  • More independence

    Children learn to be more independent and to take responsibility for their own learning and leisure activities throughout the day.

  • Support

    Children have a protected environment in which they feel comfortable and can spend their free time safely.

  • Relief for parents

    As a working parent, you don't have to worry about your child being home alone in the afternoon.

  • Integration and cultural diversity

    Children from different cultures meet at an all-day school and learn from each other. This can help to promote integration.

A legal entitlement to all-day care comes in 2026

The all-day provision at elementary school is being continuously expanded in North Rhine-Westphalia. The law on all-day support for children of primary school age provides for a legal entitlement to all-day care if parents so wish. From August 2026, all primary school children in the first years will initially be entitled to all-day support. The entitlement will be extended by one grade level in subsequent years. From August 2029, every primary school child in grades one to four will then be entitled to all-day childcare.

Where can we find help and advice?

The North Rhine-Westphalia Ministry of Education offers help in finding the right elementary school for your child on the page "Schule suchen".

If you have any questions about how you can have your child looked after during the school vacations, you can find detailed tips on the holiday care page here on the family portal.NRW.

To help you plan your childcare during the vacations, you can find all holiday dates for the school years up to 2029/30 on the website of the North Rhine-Westphalia Ministry of Education.

If you have any questions about balancing family and career, the Employment Agency offers advice and online information.

Further information Links to read more

Parent information on school concepts and childcare options in elementary school can be found on the "Primary school types in NRW" page here on the family portal.

Primary school types NRW