In day-care centers children are cared for all day or for part of the day. Criteria for choosing a day-care center include location, size, profile, design, equipment, opening hours, support (state-supported or privately financed) etc. Depending on the age of the child, you can choose from among the following options:

Crèche

Children up to the age of three are cared for here. In some day-care centres there are children of different age groups, i.e. a mixture of crèche and kindergarten.

Kindergarten

From the age of three until they start school children have the right to a placet in a kindergarten in Germany. There's a big selection of kindergartens: those in which children are divided into groups and those in which all children take part in all activities. There are "forest nurseries" in which the majority of the time is spent in the forest exploring nature. In inclusive establishments children with and without disabilities are cared for together. There are also many private kindergartens, which work according to the Waldorf or Montessori philosophies or specialise in a second language like the nursery at the Dresden International School.

For further information on public crèches and kindergartens please contact:

For further information on public crèches and kindergartens please contact:
City of Dresden
Personnel management department
Contributions agency section
Dr.-Külz-Ring 19
01067 Dresden
Phone: +49 (0)351 488 50 80
Opening hours:
Monday and Friday: 8 a.m. to 12 noon
Tuesday and Thursday: 8 a.m. to 12 noon and 2 to 6 p.m.

Crèche and Kindergarten for the kids of Phd-students

The Studentenwerk Dresden (student union) offers day-care for the children of enroled students at two regular crèches/kindergartens and a short-time day-care center.

For further information check the homepage of the Studentenwerk Dresden (in German only) or contact:
Studentenwerk Dresden
Kita-Koordinatorin Silke Wulf
Fritz-Löffler-Str. 18
01069 Dresden, 2. OG, room 203
Phone: +49 (0)351 469 77 03
E-Mail: silke.wulf(at)studentenwerk-dresden.de

Day-care (childminder, Day-Nannies)

A childminder is a very good alternative when parents prefer child care in a family atmosphere. Minders care for small groups of children (usually up to five) ranging in age from 0 to 3 years. The childminder normally hosts the children at her house, but care can also be arranged in the child's familiar environment.

Remedial day-care facilities

Children with disabilities (permanent or gradually worsening physical or mental impairments) can be cared for intensivly and given special treatment in a remedial day-care center until they start school.

Registration and Monthly fee

You must register and pay a monthly fee for a place in a crèche or kindergarten. Day-care fees are between 70 and 425 euros per month, depending on your address, income and the sponsorship of the establishment.

Alongside the above-mentioned types of child care there are other groups for small children which offer special activities and serve as meeting points for children and parents. These include play groups, toddler-groups, Prague Program for Parents and Children groups etc. These groups normally meet once a week.

Please note: Although there is a big offer of child care institutions in Dresden, you should take into account, that all day-care centers have waiting lists and you usually have to wait for a place in a crèche or kindergarten. Therefore please apply as soon as possible and be flexible concerning the location of the institution!

For more information see the city's information on day-care in Dresden and the catalogue of crèches and nurseries in Dresden (in German only).

Download Application form for public créches and kindergartens 

Download Confirmation of employment or education 

Download Day-care fees 

The private and church-related kindergartens have individual application processes. You may find information on the nursery's homepages or call the contact person.

If you need asistance in finding a day-care for your children, please contact the Welcome Center staff: welcome.center(at)tu-dresden.de

Source: www.welcome.dresden.de