Municipal authorities in Stuttgart initiate after-school care services in elementary schools
Stuttgart is set to implement an expansion of all-day care for primary school children, starting from the 2026/2027 school year. This move is in line with the "Act on All-Day Support for Children of Primary School Age" (GaFöG).
Implementation Timeline
The legal entitlement for all-day care will initially apply to children in grade 1, with one additional grade added each subsequent school year. By the 2029/2030 school year, all children in grades 1 to 4, including those at special education and counseling centers (SBBZ) except those undergoing prolonged hospitalization, will have this legal entitlement.
Funding and Infrastructure
To support this expansion, Stuttgart is directing substantial investments into school redevelopment and new constructions. One such project is the NeckarPark education center, a 93 million euro project featuring an all-day elementary school, sports halls, and daycare facilities, scheduled for completion in 2025. There is an annual budget of 40 million euros for school renovations and an additional 18 million euros covering ongoing maintenance and repairs.
Inclusion Policies
The city's municipal council has defined framework conditions for this all-day care, emphasizing educational equality, family-career balance, and inclusive policies. Specifically, they plan to develop barrier-free offers and include vacation care tailored to children with special educational needs in SBBZs, with support systems to ensure accessibility and inclusion.
Cooperative Efforts
Cooperations with primary schools and organizations in the local area are planned for the vacation care of the children at SBBZ Lernen. The goal is to provide comprehensive, accessible all-day care that supports educational equality and family needs across Stuttgart’s primary schools.
Future Plans
The city reaffirms the decision to gradually convert the remaining student houses and kindergartens at the school into full-day primary schools in the medium to long term. The School Administration Office has been assigned lead responsibility for implementing the legal claim.
At SBBZ Lernen, there has already been an afternoon care offer for years, bookable up to 5 pm on all five working days. The significant need for expansion of all-day offers at SBBZ to meet the legal claim according to GaFöG, both for school and holiday times, is being addressed.
[1] Stuttgart expands all-day care for primary school children
[3] Stuttgart invests in education infrastructure
[4] GaFöG: All-day support for children of primary school age
- In line with the GaFöG Act on All-Day Support for Children of Primary School Age (GaFöG), Stuttgart is expanding all-day care for primary school children, gradually converting student houses and kindergartens into full-day primary schools, and developing inclusive policies for children with special educational needs through SBBZ Lernen.
- To support this expansion, Stuttgart is directing substantial investments into school redevelopment and new constructions, such as the NeckarPark education center, which features an all-day elementary school, sports halls, and daycare facilities, demonstrating the city's commitment to education infrastructure and learning opportunities for all children.
