Vienna has a well-structured network of child-care institutions. There are approximately 75,000 places at private and municipal day-care centres, 1,700 places in children's groups, as well as aproximately1,500 places with day parents.
About half of the kindergartens, day nurseries and after-school centres are owned by the Vienna City Administration, Municipal Department 10, which supports many private institutions as well. The biggest private Kindergarten institutions are: “Wiener Kinderfreunde” and “Kinder in Wien”.
Mandatory Kindergarten year:
Since Semptember 2010 the attendance of kindergarten has been compulsory for five year old children with their residence in Vienna. This concerns all children who turn 5before the 1st of september of the respective calendar year.
Municipal/Public Kindergartens- at a glance:
The Vienna City Administration has three types of child-care: day nurseries, kindergartens and after-school centres.
Opening hours: Monday- Friday: 6.30- 17.30 (as needed also 6.00-18.00 possible)
Three possibilities of attendance:
8.00-12.00- Half- day (just breakfast)
6.30-14.00- Part- time (breakfast, lunch, snack)
6.30- 17.30- Full- day (breakfast, lunch, afternoon meal)
Costs: attendance is for free , you just pay the meals: 60, 61 Euro (starting from September 2012)
Day Nurseries/ Creche:
Day nurseries are provided for children up to three years.
Usually there are two nursery school teachers and two assistants, taking care of a maximum of 15 children per group.
Kindergarten
Kindergartens are for children from three to six years. The group consists of one nursery teacher, one assistant and up to 25 children. The main aim of kindergarten ist he holistic development of the children. Many kindergartens offer also Montessori teaching methods, english courses, mathematics for kindergarten kids and much more
After-school care
After-school care is for children of compulsory school age. There are a maximum of 25 children in one group, taken care of by one teacher and one assistant.
After-school care is usually provided near a primary school.
The teachers at the facilities help children with their homework and support them choose their afternoon activities