Half of daycare facilities have introduced fresh main staff members. - More than half of Kitas are adopting fresh employee access keys
In Thuringia, approximately half of kindergartens have adopted a new improved staff-child ratio as prescribed by the state's education ministry, with the remaining facilities set to transition by the end of 2027. The amendment, initiated by the previous red-red-green government, revised the Kindergarten Act and lowered the staff ratio for childcare, now standardized at one caregiver for every six children aged two to three, and one caregiver for every twelve children over three.
Initiated by the former red-red-green state government, this amendment aimed to improve the quality of early childhood education and maintain skilled staff in the face of declining child numbers. The timeline for implementation, however, has sparked a fresh debate, with some districts planning to restrict the number of available places and a small number of facilities facing potential closure due to the significant costs initially estimated at a three-digit million amount.
Lower staff-child ratios are typically associated with higher quality early childhood education, as educators can better provide individualized attention to each child. By reducing the workload and alleviating stress on educators, improved staffing ratios contribute positively to job satisfaction and retention. In turn, high staff-child ratios can lead to diminished care quality and increased burnout rates, exacerbating staff turnover. Given the challenges faced by Thuringia and other German states in recruiting and retaining qualified early childhood educators, stringent staffing ratios and appropriate support are crucial for maintaining a stable workforce.
While specific details on the current status of staff ratio implementation in Thuringian kindergartens are not immediately available, the state is known for its emphasis on maintaining favorable staff-child ratios to ensure the quality of early childhood education. For this reason, it is likely that maintaining or improving these ratios in Thuringia remains a significant focus for sustaining the quality of early childhood education and addressing workforce issues.
In the event that detailed or recently updated information on Thuringia's staff ratios is needed, consulting Thuringia’s Ministry of Education or recent regional early childhood education reports would be advisable.
In the realm of Thuringia's community policy, the focus on maintaining favorable staff-child ratios in kindergartens is a crucial aspect of early childhood education-and-self-development. This emphasis can be traced back to the red-red-green government's amendment of the Kindergarten Act, which includes a provision for vocational training to attract and retain qualified early childhood educators. Such training is imperative for promoting positive learning environments and countering rising burnout rates due to high staff-child ratios.
