Child Care Act: One hour more preparation time for group leaders
The amendment to the Salzburg Child Education and Care Act is being examined. A central point is the extension of the preparation time for the group leader. The representatives of the professional group do not want to comment on the planned changes.
SALZBURG. The amendment to the Salzburg Child Education and Care Act is being examined. State Councilor for Elementary Education, Andrea Klambauer, explains at the budget presentation for 2023 on Tuesday that this amendment will increase state funding by 5 million euros per year.
Seven hours for pedagogical work
The central point of the amendment is the extension of the preparation time for the group leader. Since 1988, the group leader has had six hours a week for pedagogical work and for meetings with parents. The amendment increases this time by one hour to seven hours per week.
Should make leadership roles more attractive
The extension of the preparation time was a long-term requirement of the professional group. “This should improve the working conditions for the educators and, above all, make the management function more attractive again,” says State Councilor Klambauer. The institutions must implement this change with a transitional period by January 1, 2024 at the latest. That is realistic. Especially in rural kindergartens, the hours of the employees would simply be increased. “This could be most difficult in the city of Salzburg, because many teachers work full-time there,” says Klambauer.
Professional group is still covered
The representatives of the professional group for elementary education Salzburg do not want to comment on the planned changes. “So far we have no facts on the table,” says the professional group.
The helper can look after six children alone at off-peak times
In order to persuade the providers to open at the off-peak times, the facilities can in future be kept open for an additional two hours a day as off-peak times with light requirements from 31 opening hours per week. This means that experienced additional staff (so-called helpers) can look after up to six children during off-peak times. From 61 opening hours per week, the extension is four hours per day.
Transparency in grants
In addition, there are plans in the amendment for the processing of funding and more transparency in the calculation for legal entities. The parents should also be informed by the facility at least twice a year about the level of funding from the state of Salzburg for their own childcare place.
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