FAQs for the LITTLE BIRD online platform / Childcare placement
Are you having trouble with the LITTLE BIRD online platform or do you have questions regarding childcare in Bad Homburg? Below, you’ll find answers to a number of frequently asked questions.
- What exactly is an “integrative placement” (integration assistance) and what do I need to enter on the form to bring attention to this type of request?
- Do I have to register with LITTLE BIRD in order to view the childcare offers available?
- Why is it necessary to register with the portal?
- Why is LITTLE BIRD not showing all childcare institutions in Bad Homburg in its search results list?
- How do I submit a childcare placement request?
- Once registered, can I submit placement requests only by way of the LITTLE BIRD platform?
- What do I need to be aware of when completing the portal’s online forms?
- Do I have to register a second contractual partner?
- How many placement requests may I submit?
- From what time onwards is it possible to submit a placement request for a specific childcare level (e.g., for children below three years of age, over three years of age, after-school care etc.)?
- I am planning to move to Bad Homburg in the near future. Is it possible to request a childcare place in Bad Homburg in advance?
- Who decides on childcare placements?
- What happens once I have submitted a childcare placement request, i.e., how does the placement procedure work?
- Why do I have to introduce myself personally?
- When do I introduce myself to an institution?
- When will my childcare request be processed and when are open childcare places allocated?
- What happens if I receive a reservation confirmation for a placement that begins later than my requested timeframe?
- Is it possible to cancel an already confirmed childcare reservation?
- What do I do if a childcare request for a specific childcare institution has been rejected?
- What must I do to remain on the waiting list of a childcare institution that has already rejected my request?
- Who should I turn to if all of my childcare placement requests are refused?
- What do I have to do once my child is about to move up to the next level of childcare (e.g., from nursery to playschool etc.)?
- What are the childcare fees?
- What exactly is an “integrative placement” (integration assistance) and what do I need to enter on the form to bring attention to this type of request?
- Can I apply for support with the payment of the childcare fees?
- I need a certificate for the tax office. Where do I obtain these?
- I need a certificate for my employer. Where do I obtain these?
What exactly is an “integrative placement” (integration assistance) and what do I need to enter on the form to bring attention to this type of request? nach oben
The main objective of every childcare institution is to prevent potential obstacles/hindrances or to eliminate or at least mitigate existing obstacles/hindrances and their effects and to promote social integration. The State of Hessen promotes the integration of young children in accordance with a special framework agreement (“Integration Places”). For further information on how to apply for such support, please contact the institution directly.
Do I have to register with LITTLE BIRD in order to view the childcare offers available? nach oben
No. The LITTLE BIRD portal works like a search engine. You may search through its content, obtain results lists or call up a map depicting the locations of the respective institutions. You may also view the individual profiles of each institution, which provide concise information and contact details.
Why is it necessary to register with the portal? nach oben
Registration is required if you want to submit a childcare placement request. It’s also the only way that you’ll be able to follow the status of your request once you have submitted it. Storing search queries, bookmarking specific institutions and managing templates are three further functions only possible once you’ve created your own account.
Why is LITTLE BIRD not showing all childcare institutions in Bad Homburg in its search results list? nach oben
When searching for childcare places with LITTLE BIRD, please note that input of the postcode narrows down the search. If you want to avoid this, simply enter “Bad Homburg” in the “City” (“Stadt”) input field and ask to see “All offers of a community” (“Alle Angebote einer Kommune”).
How do I submit a childcare placement request? nach oben
To submit a childcare placement request with a particular institution, you must first register with LITTLE BIRD and create an account. Clicking on the button entitled “Create childcare placement request” (“Betreuungsanfrage erstellen”) calls up the appropriate online form. Fields marked with a star (*) are mandatory fields and must be completed. Once you are finished, simply send the request. The institution will be informed automatically.
Once registered, can I submit placement requests only by way of the LITTLE BIRD platform? nach oben
No. The portal is a quick and easy way for you to submit a placement request. You naturally also have the opportunity to go to the respective institutions personally and ask for a childcare place on site. Placement requests made directly on site are given the same priority as those received via the LITTLE BIRD online portal.
What do I need to be aware of when completing the portal’s online forms? nach oben
Firstly, make sure that you enter all of your data correctly. Fields marked with a star (*) are mandatory and must be completed. Placement requests for an unborn child must also specify a first and last name, as the system is only able to process forms completed in their entirety. The name or names may of course be changed after the child’s birth.
Do I have to register a second contractual partner? nach oben
Yes, if you are married or have joint custody of the child in question.
How many placement requests may I submit? nach oben
The LITTLE BIRD platform allows you to submit up to five childcare placement requests for a specific form of childcare (under three or over three years of age, after-school care etc.). Requests are in no way binding; they serve as a planning guide for the institution.
From what time onwards is it possible to submit a placement request for a specific childcare level (e.g., for children below three years of age, over three years of age, after-school care etc.)? nach oben
Placement requests may be submitted a maximum of three years in advance. Placements for children under the age of three may also be submitted for children not yet born.
I am planning to move to Bad Homburg in the near future. Is it possible to request a childcare place in Bad Homburg in advance? nach oben
Childcare institutions place great value on establishing personal contact with all parents, regardless of their current residence. It is therefore necessary for one of the future contractual partners (parent or person entitled to custody) to introduce himself or herself personally. Only then will placement requests be taken into consideration. Parents living outside of Bad Homburg will receive invitations from the respective childcare institutions to meet with them personally. Please note that each institution may handle the process differently. For more detailed information, please visit the Internet presentations of the respective institutions or the profiles offered by the LITTLE BIRD website.
Who decides on childcare placements? nach oben
Institutions allocate available places according to the prevailing legal guidelines.
What happens once I have submitted a childcare placement request, i.e., how does the placement procedure work? nach oben
Each placement request is passed on to the respective institution. Please note that childcare places are assigned by the individual institutions and that LITTLE BIRD has no influence on the institutions’ decisions.
Option 1
1) Invitation to a personal introductory meeting by the institution (if the two parties have not yet met).
2) Childcare place offered by the institution (You must accept the childcare place within a period of three weeks or reject the offer. All other requests are inactive until you have accepted or rejected the offer!)
3) Acceptance by the parents (The childcare place is accepted and reserved until the commencement of care, all other requests remain automatically inactive).
4) The institution sends you an individual childcare contract.
Option 2
1) Invitation to a personal introductory meeting by the institution (if the two parties have not yet met).
2) Childcare place offered by the institution (You must accept the childcare place within a period of three weeks or reject the offer. All other requests are automatically switched inactive within the system until you have accepted or rejected the offer!)
3) Childcare place rejected by the parents (The placement request is deleted by the system after rejection, all other requests are reactivated.)
4) You may now submit a new request or wait for responses to pending requests.
Option 3
1) The childcare institution has no places available for the time being and is thus forced to reject your placement request. (All other requests remain active within the system.)
2) You may now submit a new request or wait for responses to pending requests.
Each placement request is passed on to the respective institution. Please note that childcare places are assigned by the individual institutions and that LITTLE BIRD has no influence on the institutions’ decisions. The institutions will respond to your requests individually. This may happen very quickly or take some time.
Why do I have to introduce myself personally? nach oben
Personal introductions are an important part of the allocation and security processes. They serve to identity you as a “real” person. Only once you have identified yourself and proven the genuine nature and good faith of your query will your request be taken into consideration.
When do I introduce myself to an institution? nach oben
You will be considered as “introduced” as soon as you have identified yourself with an official document confirming your identity.
When will my childcare request be processed and when are open childcare places allocated? nach oben
You may inform yourself of the processing status of your request(s) via your LITTLE BIRD account. You’ll receive an e-mail or letter from the respective institution(s) as soon as your request has been passed on to them. Once your request has been sighted, you’ll generally receive a confirmation or rejection notice of your placement request within a period of three months. Either way, the institution(s) and LITTLE BIRD endeavour to let you know of the decision as soon as possible so as to give you ample time to consider your options.
What happens if I receive a reservation confirmation for a placement that begins later than my requested timeframe? nach oben
If, for example, you have submitted a placement request with five childcare institutions to commence on 01 January 2018 and one of these institutions responds with an offer commencing on 01 May 2018, then the other four placement requests will remain active within the system.
Is it possible to cancel an already confirmed childcare reservation? nach oben
If you need to cancel a confirmed childcare place, please inform the institution immediately or turn to the municipal childcare office (kitaverwaltungbad-homburgde).
What do I do if a childcare request for a specific childcare institution has been rejected? nach oben
If you receive a rejection notice from a childcare institution, you may immediately submit a new placement request with another institution via your LITTLE BIRD account. You may of course turn to the municipal childcare office for help, if necessary.
What must I do to remain on the waiting list of a childcare institution that has already rejected my request? nach oben
Simply inform the respective institution of your wish. Should a childcare place become available unexpectedly, the institution will be able to offer you the place, provided you have not already accepted a place at a different institution.
Who should I turn to if all of my childcare placement requests are refused? nach oben
In such an unlikely case, please turn to the municipal childcare office (kinderbetreuungbad-homburgde). You may also request an appointment with us by phone: Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 8:00 am to 12:00 am and Wednesdays from 2:00 pm to 4:30 pm at 06172 / 100-5052, 100-5058 or 100-5059.
What do I have to do once my child is about to move up to the next level of childcare (e.g., from nursery to playschool etc.)? nach oben
A new childcare placement request has to be submitted for each type/level of childcare. You may do so using the LITTLE BIRD online portal or turn to Bad Homburg’s municipal childcare office.
What are the childcare fees? nach oben
To get an overview of the childcare fees of Bad Homburg’s municipal childcare institutions, visit the City of Bad Homburg’s official website and go to the section entitled “Municipal Law” (“Stadtrecht”). For information on the childcare fees of independent institutions, please visit their respective websites. You’ll also be able to take this information from the individual profiles offered on the LITTLE BIRD portal.
What exactly is an “integrative placement” (integration assistance) and what do I need to enter on the form to bring attention to this type of request? nach oben
The main objective of every childcare institution is to prevent potential obstacles/hindrances or to eliminate or at least mitigate existing obstacles/hindrances and their effects and to promote social integration. The State of Hessen promotes the integration of young children in accordance with a special framework agreement (“Integration Places”). For further information on how to apply for such support, please contact the institution directly.
Can I apply for support with the payment of the childcare fees? nach oben
If you dispose over a very limited income, you may qualify to have the childcare fees paid partially or in full by the City or State. For further information, click here.
I need a certificate for the tax office. Where do I obtain these? nach oben
Certificates and verifications are available from the municipal treasury (“Stadtkasse”).
I need a certificate for my employer. Where do I obtain these? nach oben
Please find out whether the notification provided by the municipal childcare office (Kindertagesstättenverwaltung) is sufficient for your needs. If not, please contact the office for further instructions (kitaverwaltungbad-homburgde).
