Overview
- Germany’s legal right to daily full‑day offers at primary schools starts in August 2026 for first graders and phases in to all grades by 2029 with at least eight hours per day.
- The Hessian ministry reports 11,000–13,000 new places added annually, current coverage around 69 percent, a target of 80 percent for 2026/27, and 5,300 teacher posts for on‑site programs using multiprofessional teams.
- About 58,000 children are expected to start first grade in August 2026, and the ministry says sufficient capacity will be available for that cohort.
- City updates show uneven readiness: Wiesbaden expects to meet parental demand but lacks rooms at the start and cannot yet serve substantially more meals; Kassel plans compliant offers at all primaries; Frankfurt and Darmstadt describe robust setups; Rüsselsheim will expand stepwise; the Fulda district cites long‑standing provision.
- Education union VBE and the Hessischer Städtetag caution that funding, room supply and qualified staff remain short, warn older pupils could lose places during the phased rollout, and urge clear standards for qualifications and facilities.