Rhineland-Palatinate starts all-day care for elementary school students from 2026!

Rhineland-Palatinate starts all-day care for elementary school students from 2026!

From autumn 2026, primary schools in Rhineland-Palatinate must offer all-day care of eight hours. This step is part of a comprehensive plan that enables first graders from the school year 2026/2027 to receive a legal claim to all -day care. By the school year 2029/2030, each of the four class levels at primary schools in Rhineland-Palatinate is to be supported extensively. This reform was welcomed by many as an important measure to support children and families because it is intended to improve the compatibility of work and family.

An outstanding example of the successful implementation of all-day care is the Goethe primary school in Höhr-Grenzhausen. This school has been established as a full-time school since 2005 and has developed a well-thought-out pedagogical concept for the afternoon that actively involves teachers in the care of the students. Headmistress Julia Löser emphasizes the central role of teachers for the success of this model.

The expansion of the all -day offer

Rhineland-Palatinate was the first federal state in 2002 with a special expansion program for school all-day offers. In the meantime, the Rhineland-Palatinate all-day schools are considered a model of success. Over 90 percent of the 965 primary schools now offer all -day offers, whereby 354 schools in an offer form and 9 act in a mandatory form. 506 schools have also developed into supervising primary schools with an open all -day offer, while 88 schools offer overnent support. The continuous expansion of these offers will continue in the coming years to meet the new legal entitlement.

The all -day offers not only contribute to equality of opportunities, but also support social participation and integration. This is particularly important for children from migrant families because the schools offer targeted language support. With regard to the expansion of primary schools, however, many municipalities and districts in Rhineland-Palatinate are faced with challenges that often require conversion or extension buildings.

Julia Löser encourages other schools to introduce all -day care and sees a lot of potential in the concept. However, the legal changes also bring about challenges that should not be underestimated. Nevertheless, the legal anchoring of the legal claim is generally welcomed to all-day educational and care offers in Rhineland-Palatinate. This underlined the need to create a solid and comprehensive basis for school education that meets both the needs of the children and the challenges of modern society.