North Rhine-Westphalia Sets New Nursery Care Rules for 2027 as Staffing Strains Spread
Published on 07/18/2026 at 09:01 | Redaktion boerse-global.de
North Rhine-Westphalia is changing how childcare centres are staffed and booked. On 16 July, the state parliament passed an amendment to the Kinderbildungsgesetz (Kibiz) that will introduce a new model of core and fringe hours from summer 2027.
Under the plan, pedagogical professionals must be present during the core hours, which will run for at least 35 hours per week. In the fringe hours, limited to a maximum of ten hours per week, child carers may also be deployed.
Parents will book care in five-hour blocks, within a framework of between 25 and 45 hours. The state will provide an additional 200 million euros a year, including 50 million euros for language support and 37 million euros for the Kita-Helfer programme.
The package has drawn sharp criticism from the Gewerkschaft Erziehung und Wissenschaft and the opposition groups in the SPD, FDP and AfD. The new rules also allow temporary overcapacity of up to two children per group.
Berlin Pushes Its Own Kita Reform
There is also movement at federal level. Education Minister Prien has presented a draft for a Kita-Startchancen-Gesetz. Federal funding worth 9.25 billion euros is planned through 2034.
The proposal includes mandatory language tests for four-year-olds and nationwide uniform standards. Childcare centres with many disadvantaged children are to receive extra specialist staff hours.
At the same time, municipalities are looking for new ways to recruit staff. Heidelberg held a special event on 18 July at the Haus des Stadtjugendrings to bring professionals and facilities together directly. Lahnstein is planning a training fair for the professions of educator and social assistant for the end of August.
Care Sector Faces a Severe Labour Shortage
The pressure is not limited to childcare. The shortage of skilled workers in care is becoming more acute. The Pflegekammer NRW reports that in 2023, 1.38 million people in North Rhine-Westphalia were covered by long-term care insurance — an increase of 137 percent since 2013.
In many districts, far more professionals are retiring than new recruits are entering the field. Chamber president Sandra Postel is urging municipalities to use data from the chamber register for forward-looking planning.
Industry groups including the bpa Bayern and the DBfK are criticising the GKV-Beitragssatzstabilisierungsgesetz. They object to the suspended reimbursement of tariff-related wage increases in home nursing and to the cap on the care budget from 2027. bpa state chairman Kai Kasri warned: „Das gefährdet die Versorgung für einen erheblichen Teil der Pflegebedürftigen in Bayern."
In Thuringia, the number of graduates in care training is falling, a result of poor working conditions and strong competition from other sectors.
Where Staffing Gaps Are Already Hitting Services
The effects are already visible. In Bayreuth, a special education centre had to cancel care places for several severely disabled children because there were too few specialists. The government of Upper Franconia stepped in to prevent a full closure.
Short-term care places are also lacking in East Westphalia-Lippe during the summer months. Family carers go on holiday and demand rises, but bed capacity has been cut because of staffing shortages or cost considerations. In Rheda-Wiedenbrück, the city administration confirmed on 16 July that personnel problems had led to the temporary closure of the local outdoor pool.
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