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Child Care / School / Support

Starting a new career is exciting—but with children, it can also be very challenging. Finding the right childcare, preschool, or school raises many questions.

The Dual Career Service helps you find the right options—and familiarizes you with the registration and application procedures common in the region.

In addition, we’re happy to provide information about local cultural activities, clubs, and support programs for children and teens, so your children can quickly make friends and feel at home.

Kinderbetreuung

Vacation Planning Made Easy

Familienservicebüro Ferienbetreuung

School Vacation Dates in North Rhine-Westphalia 

Summer Break: July 20 – September 1, 2026

Fall Break: October 17–October 31, 2026

Christmas Break: December 23, 2026 – January 6, 2027

(Kindergartens set their own closure dates—up to 27 days per year)

 

Vacation Care

Holiday Care in Elementary Schools in the City of Siegen 2026 (PDF)

Holiday Care at the University of Siegen (ages 6 to 14)

  • Summer Break: July 27 – August 14, 2026
  • Fall Break: October 19–30, 2026

Flexi by the Siegen Student Services Organization (ages 6 months to 10 years)

Recreational Program of the University City of Siegen and the Stadtjugendring Siegen e.V.

 

Programs Offered by the University of Siegen

Familienservicebüro Familie Titelbild

University of Siegen Family Services Office

Flexi

  • Flexible Childcare is a joint project of the University of Siegen and the Studierendenwerk.
  • Monday through Thursday 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. / Friday 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. 

  • For costs and further information, see the flyer

     

  • Here, you can have your children (ages 6 months to 10 years) cared for by qualified childcare professionals on an hourly basis, tailored to your needs.
  • Full-day care is also available by arrangement as a temporary solution (for example, if a permanent childcare spot is not yet available)

Child Care Until Children Start School

Familienservice_Beschäftigte_Info
Child Day Care
  • If you would like to place your child (under 3 years of age) in a child day care setting within the city limits of Siegen, the City of Siegen’s Child Day Care Advisory Service can assist you. There, you can be matched with a spot and register your child. For daycare centers in the Siegen-Wittgenstein district, please contact the Youth Welfare Office.
  • The Siegen-Wittgenstein district uses the online registration portal “siwi-webkita” for the registration process; there, you can also independently research the various daycare providers if needed.
Child Day Care Facilities 
  • Daycare centers in the Siegen city area provide care for children from 4 months of age until they start school. Parents can choose between 25, 35, and 45 hours of care per week.
  • The daycare year begins on August 1; registrations can be submitted until January 31, though it is recommended to register by the end of December. 
  • For mid-year registrations, please contact the relevant advisory offices ( city / county). 

  • It is also recommended that you visit the daycare centers in person so that you and the centers can get a first impression of one another.

     

  • The Child Care Advisory Service will be happy to answer any questions you may have regarding care at a child care center in the Siegen metropolitan area.
  • Once you have decided on a daycare center in the Siegen city area, you must register there via the Kita-Navigator. It is recommended that you register for the maximum of 5 centers, as not every application will be approved.
  • If you have decided on a daycare center in the district, you must register via siwi-Webkita. Here, too, it is recommended that you make use of all 5 possible registrations.

Costs

  • Parent fees are charged for child day care (day care center / family day care). These fees are payable until two years before the child starts school. The last two years are free of charge.
  • Further information on the parental fees in the city of Siegen can be found here.
  • Further information on the parental fees charged by the Siegen-Wittgenstein district can be found here.

School

© Cherries
Familienservice_Kinderbetreuung_Schule

The Siegen-Wittgenstein region offers a variety of schools and school systems:

  • Elementary schools (grades 1–4)
  • Secondary schools (grades 5–9 or 10)
  • Realschulen (grades 5–10)
  • Gymnasien (grades 5–13)
  • Comprehensive schools (grades 5–13)
  • Continuing Education College (Catching up on school diplomas)
  • Special education schools focusing on learning as well as emotional and social development

  • Vocational colleges 

     

Private schools in the Siegen region

General Information

Transferring to Public Schools – City of Siegen

Transferring to Schools in the Siegen-Wittgenstein District

Transferring to a School in North Rhine-Westphalia

  • Here, the Ministry of Schools and Education of North Rhine-Westphalia provides information on “Moving to NRW” and “Changing Schools” 

Changing Schools After a Move

  • Here you will find a guide that highlights the challenges associated with changing schools. Factors to consider include, for example, the recognition of previous academic achievements, choosing the right type of school, foreign language skills, and more.

All About the School System in North Rhine-Westphalia

Elementary School in North Rhine-Westphalia

Education / Support

Eine Schülerin sitzt an einem Tisch mit Experimentiermaterialien, im Hintergrund ist eine Tafel mit Formeln zu sehen

Learning Resources

Extracurricular Education / Support

For the Little Ones