Childcare

If you are bringing your child/children and are interested in childcare, the FamilienServiceBüro ("FamilyServiceOffice") of Paderborn University is happy to help you with any questions you may have about childcare in Germany.

At the moment, their website is only available in German but they will soon add some information in English. In the meantime, you can contact the Office via e-mail to get some information in English.

Please note: We highly advise you to inform yourself as early as possible about childcare options and already start arranging childcare before coming to Paderborn. Daycare facilities are in great demand and correspondingly very hard to find. Usually, an early registration is also required.  For instance, places in daycare facilities („Kindertagesstätte“) are usually allocated on August 1st of each year. This requires registration in October of the previous year.

In Germany, parents have a legal right to childcare placement once their child has turned one year old. Please note that the legal claim has to be asserted to the Youth Welfare Office (Jugendamt) at least 6 months before the place is needed. Please contact the FamilienServiceBüro for further information and support.

In Paderborn, there are various forms of childcare. The most common ones are the following:

  • Daycare facilities: usually care for children between the ages of 4 months and 6 years for about 35 or 45 hours per week
  • Childminders, called "Tagesmütter" or "Tagesväter" („day mothers“ or „day fathers“) in German, provide individualised care and have more flexible hours and they usually look after several children at a time in their own homes.

Paderborn University supports you in arranging childcare. The FamilienServiceBüro will help you to find a daycare facility or childminders and give you some advice on how to register your child/children.

Paderborn University also offers students and staff short-term and emergency care for their children (PUKi). You can find further information about the childcare facilities offered by Paderborn University here (in German). 

Further information on childcare and the school system in Germany can be found here (Euraxess).