All-Day Primary School Care Becomes Legal Right from August 2026

From August 1, 2026, all first-graders in Germany will have a legal right to an all-day place. This entitlement will be extended to the remaining primary school years in subsequent years, so that from the 2029/2030 school year, all children from first to fourth grade will be entitled to a place in all-day childcare.

What This Means

Unlike previous half-day or staggered schedules, schools may close for a maximum of four weeks under the new arrangement. The legal entitlement is not compulsory for families – parents can therefore decide for themselves whether their children take up the offer of all-day childcare.

Activities offered throughout the day include sports, music, and creative programs. However, according to the Bertelsmann Stiftung, several 10,000 additional teachers and up to 100,000 additional pedagogical specialists are needed, with this challenge particularly acute in western Germany.

Practical Implications for Expat Families

If you have a child entering Grade 1 in autumn 2026, you will have the option to enroll them in the expanded all-day program—this is not mandatory, but it can ease the transition for working parents adjusting to German school rhythms. Check with your local school (Schulamt) about implementation timelines, as infrastructure and staffing rollout will vary by Bundesland. The gradual expansion also means parents with younger children entering later grades will see the full benefit in place by 2029/30.

Sources

• Bundesregierung — All-day care at primary schools to be expanded
• SDUI — The law on all-day support for children of primary school age