Kita expansion in Laupheim: care, current challenges and solutions!

Kita expansion in Laupheim: care, current challenges and solutions!

In Laupheim there are currently no waiting lists for daycare places, but the shortage of skilled workers ensures a noticeable reduction in childcare times. In the current kindergarten year 2024/25, a total of 1262 crèche and kindergarten places and 56 day care places are available. This was reported by Sigrid Scheiffele, the head of the Office of Education and Supervision, in the administration and finance committee. Despite these solid numbers, however, it is pointed out to the challenge that 6.5 full -time positions in urban daycare centers are currently vacant. The shortage of skilled workers is also an urgent problem in Laupheim. According to the Tagesschau, over 125,000 specialists in daycare are missing nationwide, which also tightens the situation.

to master this situation was founded in Laupheim, a “Taskforce Kita” was founded, which is supposed to take care of personnel recruitment. Weightful steps have already been taken by offering 25 training positions in urban institutions. It is also considered to improve the conditions for daycare lines. However, there is still a request to raise the pay groups. The need for a quick action is clear - specialists are worth gold in childcare.

cuts in the childcare period

Another explosive topic is the reduction in childcare times. In Laupheim, these had to be reduced from 49 to 45 hours a week. As early as 2022, the opening times were reduced to 42 hours in some daycare centers. The city is now looking for alternative solutions and has discussions with the parents. It is also considered about cooperation opportunities with associations to enable care on Friday afternoon from 1 p.m. But here Scheiffele emphasizes that there are organizational hurdles and that the costs for additional support must be borne by the parents.

These developments are in the context of a comprehensive strategy to combat the shortage of skilled workers in childcare, which was presented by Federal Minister of Family Lisa Paus. According to the [Federal Minister of Family] (https://www.bmfsfj.de/bmfsfj/aktuelles/alle-svalungen/Mehr-fachkraefte-in-kitas- and-ganztag-legt-legt-legt-legt-legt-zur-Fachkraeftegwinung-vor-240036), the situation for children and educators is to be improved. In the long term it is forecast that between 50,000 and 90,000 specialists in daycare centers could be missing by 2030.

The challenge of the future

The shortage of skilled workers is described as a double problem: the existing employees are overloaded, which can lead to further failures. Children therefore do not fully benefit from the educational and care offers. In order to counteract this, the parity overall association calls for better framework conditions in the training and the crediting of trainees to the personnel key. The demands receive support from various political directions, but a common solution is still pending.

In Laupheim, the topic of childcare is politely but definitely discussed. It is important to have a good hand for sustainable solutions in order to support both children and employees in childcare. The development remains exciting and the dialogue between city, parents and daycare centers is more important than ever.