Childcare and School in Salzburg – An Overview

Where to leave the little ones during working hours? This is a question parents ask not only during the holidays. In Salzburg, there are various options available – depending on the age and needs of the children, parents can choose different types of childcare. Other factors that may be important in the decision to opt for external childcare include the facility’s opening hours, educational focus, philosophy of care, group size, and, of course, the costs. Tip: A personal visit to several childcare centers can help in making the right choice.

Kindergarten

For children who are not yet of school age, there are playgroups and kindergartens. In Salzburg, parents can choose between municipal, private, and religious institutions. However, due to high demand, waiting times are often common.
Information about municipal kindergartens can be found here: Childcare in Salzburg.
Some companies also offer on-site company kindergartens, where children are cared for in small groups directly at their parents’ workplace. Whether this option is available must be clarified directly with the employer.

Private kindergartens often have a specific focus, such as Montessori, Waldkindergarten (forest kindergarten), or language immersion programs like English. It is advisable to schedule an appointment at the kindergarten directly and inquire about available spots. This also applies to religious kindergartens.

Good to know: 
Attending kindergarten part-time – meaning at least 20 hours per week – is mandatory for children who turn 5 by August 31st, from September to June. This kindergarten year is also free of charge. A snack or meal contribution must be paid, as well as any additional care hours in the afternoon.

School

When children are of school age, the first step is to find a school. There are different options available, depending on the child’s age. In Austria, children between the ages of 6 and 15 are required to attend school, meaning they must attend for at least nine years. For the first four years, children attend primary school (Volksschule). After that, children and parents can decide on the next steps in education: Options include secondary schools, general secondary schools, polytechnic schools, or vocational or higher education institutions. Most schools are publicly funded, which means there are no tuition fees. However, private schools may charge tuition fees.

Attention: This means that attending school itself is free of charge. However, parents are responsible for paying for school materials, various fees, as well as excursions and trips.

For children who require special educational support, there are also options to attend school – either a special education school or an inclusive regular school.

Detailed information about compulsory education and related topics can be found here: Information on General Compulsory Education.

By the way: In Salzburg, there are also English-language childcare services and schools, such as the English Play Group, the American International School, and the Salzburg International School. For inquiries about available spots, please contact the respective institution directly.

Afternoon Care

In most cases, younger children spend less time at school than their parents spend at work. For this reason, many schools offer full-day programs that include lunch and after-school care. After a shared lunch, students complete their homework, followed by a variety of recreational or educational activities. In many cases, this full-day care takes place directly at the school, but sometimes it is provided at a nearby kindergarten or after-school care facility. Information about the different afternoon care options can be obtained directly from the schools, with registration usually taking place during school enrollment. There are also daycare providers who specifically offer afternoon care for schoolchildren; information on this can be found directly at the daycare parent center.

Registration at the New School

Once you have chosen a school for your child, you should contact the school administration as soon as possible to schedule a personal appointment. During this meeting, you will receive all the necessary information for a successful start to school. Your child can also be registered at a school during the school year, but it is also necessary to get in touch with the school administration.

If possible, please bring the following documents for your child to the appointment:

• Child’s birth certificate
• Proof of the child’s or a parent’s nationality
• Proof of the child’s registration in the school district (registration confirmation)
• Proof of the legal guardian’s registration (registration confirmation)
• Proof of religious affiliation, e.g. baptism certificate
• Child’s social security number

Holidays

School-aged children have holidays at different times depending on the school they attend. During the summer, schools are closed for a continuous nine weeks – a challenging time for parents. The exact dates of your child’s holidays depend, among other factors, on the type of school and the federal state your child attends. The specific holiday periods can be found on the schools’ websites. To help you plan ahead for how your child will be cared for during school breaks, we have gathered some useful links:

• On the Schülerbetreuung.at website, parents and guardians can arrange care for their children during the holidays – exact times are published before each holiday period.
• The state of Salzburg also offers holiday programs – assistance is available if suitable childcare has not been found.
• The Chamber of Labour (Arbeiterkammer) provides information on various holiday programs.
• For parents who wish to combine holiday care with educational activities, children can also be registered for special theme weeks, such as those offered by MINT Salzburg.

(Information on individual programs will be available before each holiday period.)