Traun reports “breakthrough” in childcare

“Every child over the age of three will get a place,” said Mayor Karl-Heinz Koll (VP) in a press release today. The reason for this is a basic agreement on a childcare package, which is to be approved by the municipal council on July 3.

More on the subject: No childcare: “That shouldn’t happen”

Traun has a lot of catching up to do in this regard, especially in terms of after-school care. Last year, some of the children registered for after-school care could not be offered a regular place. In order to still have an offer, so-called “flexi groups” were founded. These do not meet the standards of a regular after-school care center because, for example, they are not open until at least 5 p.m., but only until 2:30 p.m. and no pedagogically trained staff is required – but Traun still has them. Nevertheless, the flexi groups are only intended to be an interim solution, also because they have to be financed solely by the municipality. There are currently three flexi groups. There should be enough regular after-school care places by 2028 at the latest.

The package now being negotiated includes the following points:

• In autumn, a fourth Flexi group will be added in St. Dionysen and a playgroup
• Even children who only stay until 1pm get lunch
• The opening hours of the Flexi groups will be extended until 3.30 p.m.
• From next school year, holiday and summer care will be aligned with the after-school care

“Nevertheless, I am aware that there are still challenges for working parents in some individual cases. And even though we have made enormous improvements in a very short space of time – the flexi groups were organized within a few weeks – we will continue to do everything we can to offer the best possible childcare in Traun. There is now a solid foundation on which the master plan for the future is based,” explains Koll. A majority in the local council is considered certain.