Vienna guarantees full-day kindergarten spots for parents on leave or unemployed

Vienna is implementing a new regulation to guarantee that parents will not lose their full-day kindergarten spots for their children if they go on parental leave or face unemployment. This change, set to take effect at the start of the new kindergarten year in September, aims to offer greater security to families.

Previously, parents in such situations often had to arrange for their children to be picked up earlier from municipal kindergartens. The new rule ensures that children who were initially granted a full-day spot will continue to have access to it, even if the parents' employment status changes temporarily.

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Full-day spot remains full-day spot. The goal is that no family loses their full-day kindergarten place due to parental leave or temporary job loss.

City Councilor Bettina Emmerling, who is responsible for the sector, stated that the goal is to ensure no family loses their full-day kindergarten placement due to parental leave or temporary job loss. This policy aims to allow children consistent attendance at kindergarten, irrespective of their parents' professional circumstances.

The measure will also be applied retroactively. Families who previously had their full-day access modified for these reasons can reapply for their child to attend the entire day if the need arises. Emmerling expressed confidence that this change provides essential security for families in Vienna.

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Children should thus be enabled to attend kindergarten continuously, regardless of the parents' professional situation. This creates security for families.