After-school centres

12. How do after-school centres support parents?

New stage in life

The transition to primary school marks the beginning of a new stage in life for the children. Systematic learning and knowledge acquisition characterise daily routines at school. Not least for this reason, it is important to encourage children to structure and use their remaining free time in such a way that it serves both their individual interests and their overall health.

After-school centres

An after-school centre is a social-educational facility providing care for children during the first four grades of school. Some facilities are integrated into a pre-school day care centre, while others are part of the primary school itself. Where requested by parents, the children can be looked after before and after their school lessons, as well as during the school holidays. Parents pay a stipulated contribution for care in an after-school centre (see Question 14).

Independent educational objectives

The after-school centres pursue independent educational objectives, and in doing so maintain close contact to the children's school teachers and parents. The children are looked after for the whole day, complete their homework at the centre and are able to organise their free time to suit their particular interests. The daily schedule is planned and organised independently, as valuable preparation for the demands which await at later stages of their education. A wide spectrum of modern media is made available, enabling the children to acquire further knowledge and intensify the learning process. The systematic learning of school lessons is supplemented and supported by the leisure activities on offer. If the after-school centre is integrated into a full-day primary school project, lessons and free time are planned for the day as a whole. All the teaching staff are available to assist the children wherever necessary.

After-school care in schools or pre-school day care facilities

Most primary schools in Dresden are able to offer after-school care, either directly in the school building or in the immediate vicinity. Furthermore, the Saxon Law on Day Care and Promotion Facilities for Children (SächsKitaG) provides for children to return to the familiar environment of their pre-school day care centre, if appropriate.

Each after-school centre implements its own individual concept, and the parents are able to exert decisive influence on the educational profile and nature of the recreational activities. The children, too, contribute ideas to the programme organisation of their after-school centre. A broad and diverse range of activities is offered, and the children are able to choose those in which they wish to participate. And it goes without saying, that ample provision is made for individual play in the fresh air.

Registrations

If the chosen after-school centre is run by the City of Dresden, parents must simply register their children before they start school, either directly with the responsible head of the after-school centre in the school or with the director of a pre-school day care centre providing after-school facilities.

In the case of independently run facilities, information on registration procedures is similarly available by contacting the centre directly (see Question 13).

Care and supervision contract

The municipal facilities conclude a »care and supervision contract« with the parents of their future charges. This contract contains binding stipulations regarding the children's recreational activities and other legal agreements. When parents register a child for after-school care, they receive a copy of the care and supervision contract, a form for calculation of the payable contribution and an info sheet on eligibilities for fee reductions. Once the payable contribution has been determined and the contract signed, the child is entitled to attend the after-school centre. Parents can terminate the contract during the school year with a notice of one month to the end of each month. The notice of termination must be given in writing to the head of the after-school centre by the first day of the last month in which the child is to attend. The care and supervision contract ends automatically when the child completes the fourth grade of school (but still includes the period of the subsequent summer holidays). The contracts for the independently run facilities may vary in certain points. Precise information should be obtained from the after-school centre in question.

Contact

Child Day Care Agency for Dresden

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Visitor address

Dr.-Külz-Ring 19
01067 Dresden

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Phone +49-(0)351-4885101

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Postal address

Postfach 12 00 20
01001 Dresden