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Kita in Frankfurt: finding a place on kindernetfrankfurt.de

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This page only covers what is different in Frankfurt. The rules, documents and deadlines are the same everywhere — see the national guide: Kita (daycare).

In shortIn Frankfurt, every city-funded childcare place is allocated centrally and only through the portal kindernetfrankfurt.de. You register once, submit a needs report (Bedarfsmeldung) and reserve places at as many Kitas as you like. For places starting from 1 August, allocation begins on 1 February. When you get an offer, the place and meeting are held for 10 working days.
On this page
  1. How Frankfurt's system works
  2. Step by step
  3. When to reserve
  4. Moving to Frankfurt
  5. Help and English
  6. Frankfurt at a glance

How Frankfurt's system works

Frankfurt has no voucher. Instead, all city-funded childcare places (Krippe, Kindergarten, Hort, childminders and after-school care) are allocated centrally and exclusively through the online portal kindernetfrankfurt.de. It covers over 56,000 places at around 1,100 facilities and childminders run by church, non-profit and city providers. Only purely commercial private facilities are not included.

The Kitas themselves still decide who gets a place. The portal manages the process.

Step by step

  1. Search without an account: filter by opening hours, distance, focus or free places.
  2. Register once with your personal details and confirm your email.
  3. Submit a Bedarfsmeldung (needs report) for each child and each type of care, and reserve (vormerken) places at the Kitas you want. There is no limit on the number of reservations, and you can rank your favourites.
  4. When a Kita offers you a place, it invites you to a meeting. The place and the date are held for 10 working days.
  5. You sign the care contract in person with the Kita's management.

When to reserve

Child's age Earliest reservation
Under 3 From birth (the legal right starts at age 1)
3 until school Up to 18 months before the 3rd birthday
School children Up to 18 months before school starts

Allocation for places starting from 1 August begins on 1 February of that year. You won't receive rejections: places become free throughout the year, so reservations stay active.

Moving to Frankfurt

If you have not moved yet, you can save a draft Bedarfsmeldung with your current address. Then send a Fremdgemeindeantrag (application from another municipality) to the Infobörse. To sign a care contract you usually need to show a Frankfurt address. Do your Anmeldung as soon as you arrive.

Help and English

The Infobörse Kindertagesbetreuung at the Stadtschulamt (Solmsstraße 27–37) helps with registration and reservations, including for parents with language difficulties. Book a visit through the city's Terminservice first. The portal offers flyers in English explaining the main steps. Care fees are listed in the city's fee table. See the Kita guide for the national rules.

Frankfurt at a glance

Topic Frankfurt
System kindernetfrankfurt.de (all city-funded places)
Voucher None
Main allocation From 1 February for August starts
Hold on an offer 10 working days
Contract Signed in person at the Kita
Help Infobörse, Stadtschulamt

Official Frankfurt sources

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