Compulsory kindergarten year

All children who have turned 5 by 2 September of a given year and have their main place of residence in Vienna are obliged to attend a kindergarten or a children’s group (Kindergruppe).

Compulsory attendance starts with the school year. Children have to attend kindergarten for at least 20 hours a week on at least four days a week. Parents who do not send their children to kindergarten commit an administrative offence and have to pay an administrative fine.

However, children do not have to attend when they or their parent/guardian are ill or when there are school holidays. They can also take five weeks of holidays outside school holidays.

Compulsory attendance does not apply to children

• who are cared for by day parents (Tagesmutter/Tagesvater),
• who are educated at home,
• who attend a child-care institution in another federal province,
• who cannot be reasonably expected to attend a kindergarten because of medical reasons due to a disability or because of special educational needs,
• who already attend school before compulsory school age.

If any of the above reasons apply (except early school entry), parents/guardians have to inform Municipal Department Child and Youth Welfare Service (MA 11) in writing.

Contact

Municipal Department Child and Youth Welfare Service (MA 11), Gruppe Recht - Referat Kindertagesbetreuung (legal affairs group - office for child day-care services)
Phone: +43 1 4000 90739
E-mail: gr-vkj@ma11.wien.gv.at