Nordhorn's Childcare Crisis: 300 Spot Shortage as Demand Surges
Nordhorn faces a shortage of 300 child spots, making the federal target of 35 percent insufficient. The city council has approved a new facility in Deegfeld, set to open in January 2019, but demand is outpacing supply. Around 300 children under 3 are on waiting lists.
The city administration is actively seeking more locations and expansion options for childcare facilities. This year's demand has exceeded expectations, partly due to planned fee exemptions and reductions. However, the recent amendment to the Lower Saxony School Act may keep some children in kindergarten for an extra year, further straining available spots.
The city has doubled its child spots in the past five years, from around 180 to 360. Despite this, there are still approximately 130 missing spots for children over 3 years old. Children under 3 are currently cared for in age-mixed groups, further reducing the number of kindergarten spots.
Nordhorn's administration is working to address the shortage of child spots, with a new facility on the way. However, the city must continue to explore expansion options and address staffing challenges to meet the growing demand for childcare.
