Fine enforced on parents in Kita for childrearing infractions
In the city of Ravensburg, a new measure has been announced to address a recurring issue: late child pick-ups from kindergartens and nurseries. Starting from the next Kita year, parents who are late in collecting their children will face fines, which are referred to as an additional fee rather than a penalty by the city administration and providers.
The fines are not meant to punish parents, but rather to have a disciplinary effect and cover the costs of overtime for staff due to late collections. The operating license of daycare centers requires that a certain number of staff must be present to ensure proper functioning, and late collections have been causing disruptions in workflow, tying up staff who are not available for the whole group.
The first instance of late collection will result in a reminder, the second time will cost 25 euros, and each subsequent instance will cost 50 euros. These fines are seen as a measure to address the recurring issue of late collections, following discussions and approvals in a meeting of the committee for education, social affairs, and sports on July 16.
The GEB, the overall parents' council of the daycare centers in Ravensburg, considers the measure to be legitimate, intended to stop systematic late pick-ups. The GEB chairperson, Linda Strauch, emphasizes that it's not acceptable for parents to be half an hour or more late in picking up their children.
The city administration and providers assure that the fines will be used responsibly and should not lead to escalations between families and daycare centers. They justify the fines by the operating license and the staff that must be present to ensure proper functioning of daycare centers.
It's important to note that the fines are not meant for parents who might be a few minutes late due to unforeseen circumstances like traffic or work. However, repeated late pick-ups might lead to warnings or reconsideration of the child’s attendance contract.
The implementation of these fines is not a new concept in Germany. Similar policies are common in many German daycare centers and are usually stipulated in the contract between parents and the daycare provider. The fines have been successfully implemented in other municipalities, as pointed out by Hartmann.
However, for precise details about the specific implications and reasons for the fines in Ravensburg, contacting local daycare centers or municipal offices would be necessary. The city administration and providers view the fines as a necessary step to ensure the proper functioning of daycare centers and maintain fairness and order among all families using the daycare services.
Applying the new measures announced in Ravensburg, parents are encouraged to adhere to the pick-up times at kindergartens and nurseries to avoid fines, which are not intended as penalties but as education-and-self-development for prompt attendance. The fines, starting from 25 euros for the second instance and escalating for each subsequent late pick-up, are being implemented to address the recurring issue of late collections and cover the associated costs of overtime for staff.
