The program will launch in up to 30 facilities in 2026
The Senator for Labor, Social Affairs, Youth and Integration, along with the Senator for Children and Education, will launch a pilot project for systemic support in up to 30 daycare centers in Bremen in 2026. The goal is to specifically strengthen facilities with a particularly high number of children with special needs. Instead of individual personal assistants, systemic support will be provided for all children.
Preventive effect is intended to save costs
The number of children in daycare receiving early intervention or support services has risen sharply in recent years, both in Bremen and nationwide. In the area of personal assistance in daycare centers, the number of cases increased from 819 in February 2024 to 1,203 in February 2025.
Due to this increase and the effects of tariffs and inflation, total costs of nearly €55 million are expected for 2025 (2024: €32.7 million). It is anticipated that additional children will be reached through the systemic daycare support program for whom no personal assistance has yet been requested. This preventative effect will result in further cost savings.
Application process for parents is no longer required
With the new systemic daycare support program, quick and uncomplicated support will be available directly in the daycare centers starting in August 2026 – without any application process for parents. Systemic daycare support is an integral part of the daycare team.
The specialists work preventively and focus on actual needs: They support both children with officially recognized special educational needs or assistance requirements, as well as those whose need for support is only just beginning to emerge. This aims to reduce the need for individual assistance applications and avoid the potential stigmatization of individual children.
Strengthening daycare centers specifically where support is needed
The Senator for Labor, Social Affairs, Youth and Integration, Dr. Claudia Schilling, supports the pilot project: “With the pilot project for systemic support, we are specifically strengthening daycare centers in Bremen where support is needed. It is crucial for me that families receive relief quickly, easily, and without additional application procedures. Children who require special support receive it directly and immediately within their everyday lives. Furthermore, the entire daycare group can benefit from the preventative approach of the pedagogical staff.”
Faster and less bureaucratic support for children
The Senator for Children and Education, Mark Rackles, expressly welcomes the project: “With systemic daycare support, we are strengthening inclusive education locally and directly relieving the burden on parents and guardians: Permanent, qualified educational staff in the daycare team ensure that children receive the support they need more quickly and without bureaucratic hurdles. This is good for children's development, creates security for families and prevents the exclusion of individual children.”
And this is how the pilot project will be implemented:
- The pilot project will be implemented in 30 daycare centers.
- For the framework of the systemic solution, an average of one specialist per group is targeted, depending on the size of the daycare center.
- The selected daycare centers will inform the affected parents about the changed concept.
- Individual cost coverage decisions should be largely eliminated after a transition period, provided there is no individual need for assistance.
BEK is testing a pooling solution
Parallel to this project, the Bremen Protestant Church (BEK) is testing a pooling solution as a pilot project: Early childhood educators support several children with identified special needs. Implementation is being carried out gradually, starting with five children in two facilities (in one daycare center, one educator supports three children, in the other, two children). Existing staffing levels do not allow for an immediate conversion of all daycare centers.
The funding period for daycare providers is initially planned until July 31, 2029.
First evaluation after the end of the 2026/27 kindergarten year
The pilot project is being jointly overseen by the Senator for Labor, Social Affairs, Youth and Integration and the Senator for Children and Education. An evaluation will collect and analyze data on the number of participants, the financial impact, and the influence on practices in daycare centers. An initial evaluation will be presented after the end of the 2026/27 kindergarten year.
The two participating departments will now address the model project with their respective specialist committees and obtain the necessary authorizations from the Budget and Finance Committee via the Senator for Finance.
Source: Press Office of the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen, The Senator for Labour, Social Affairs, Youth and Integration / The Senator for Children and Education, Press Release , 02.12.2025