Child day care; application for a care permit

If you would like to work as a childminder, you need a care permit before you start working and from the first child.

A person who wishes to care for a child or several children under the age of 14 outside the household of the legal guardian for part of the day and for more than 15 hours a week for more than three months in return for payment requires a permit in accordance with Section 43 SGB VIII. This is issued by the local youth welfare office (§ 87a SGB VIII).

The care permit is limited to five years and may be subject to additional conditions.

The permit authorizes the care of up to five other children present at the same time. In individual cases, the permit may be limited to fewer than five children (e.g. if the premises are too small for five children). The total number of children to be cared for is limited to eight.

Large-scale day care is a form of child day care in which several child day carers (max. 3 regularly employed child day carers) look after the children who are contractually and personally assigned to them in shared rooms (the large-scale day care center). In principle, no more than three childminders may work permanently in large-scale daycare in Bavaria and may not care for more than ten children present at the same time (a maximum of 16 care relationships in total). If more than eight children are cared for at the same time, at least one of the childminders must be a pedagogical specialist.

• During the consultation with your youth welfare office, you will find out which documents you need - these include
  • extended certificate of good conduct
  • Short curriculum vitae
  • Proof of training
  • Proof of "First aid in educational and care facilities for children" course
  • Educational concept, in particular with statements on
    • general conditions
    • family structure
    • Goals of the educational work
    • Developmental conditions of the children
    • Opportunities for experience and support
    • Health education, nutrition
    • daily routine
    • Aims and forms of work with parents, cooperation with facilities and institutions

The requirements for suitability as a caregiver include personal, professional and health suitability. For example, the following criteria are checked:

• personal aptitude and qualifications to care for children*
• Suitable home environment/rooms for the care of children
• the welfare of the daycare child must be guaranteed (as well as that of any children already living with the family)
• Orderly financial circumstances

* Childminders should have in-depth knowledge of the requirements of childminding (§§ 23, 43 SGB VIII). This is usually taught in a qualification course.

The responsible youth welfare office decides on the scope of this course or possible (partial) recognition of other qualifications in this sense. A minimum qualification of 160 hours is required for state refinancing. In addition, the willingness to take part in regular further training of at least 15 hours per year.

Childminders who look after children before the age of one will be refinanced by the state if they are pedagogical staff in accordance with § 16 AVBayKiBiG or if a qualification in the sense of Art. 20 Sentence 1 No. 1 BayKiBiG of at least 300 hours is proven.

The courses also serve the purpose of networking and mutual exchange.

Before you apply for a permit, you should seek advice from the youth welfare office. They will tell you what specific requirements you need to fulfill and what evidence you need to provide.

You can then submit the application in writing to the responsible youth welfare office or hand it in in person. According to § 87a Para. 1 SGB VIII, the youth welfare office in whose area of responsibility the childminder carries out their work is locally responsible. If the childminder works in the area of responsibility of several local authorities, the local authority in whose area the childminder has their habitual residence is responsible.

The youth welfare office checks the suitability and the available premises.

If the requirements are met, the permit is issued.

Children can only be cared for after the permit has been issued.

In accordance with § 43 Para. 3 S. 4 SGB VIII, the permit for child day care is limited by law to 5 years.

You can apply for an extension before this period expires.