Germany launches legal right to full‑day primary school care

From 1 August 2026 a nationwide legal entitlement to full‑day care for primary‑school children takes effect in Germany. The right initially covers first‑grade pupils and will be extended each year, reaching all grades by the 2029/30 school year. It guarantees up to eight hours of education and supervision five days a week, including during school holidays, though each state may suspend up to four weeks.

The Bavarian government allocated around €11 million to Munich’s Kooperative Ganztag at the Grundschule am Karl‑Marx‑Ring, financing five new combined facilities with 2 100 places. Family Minister Ulrike Scharf emphasised that “education is the most important thing we can give children,” linking the programme to better work‑family balance, integration and inclusion.

Training sessions for midday‑care staff in Neumarkt and other towns aim to ensure quality provision during holiday programmes under the Ganztagesförderungsgesetz. Authorities warn that the legal claim does not automatically create enough slots; many municipalities still face staffing shortages, waiting lists and varying admission criteria, prompting parents to apply early and, if necessary, appeal refusals.