Germany’s federal government proposes a nationwide screening programme for four-year-olds, aiming to address developmental disparities early and allocate €9.25 billion to improve early childhood support before school age.
Germany’s federal government is moving ahead with a new childcare bill that aims to identify developmental gaps earlier and give kindergartens more targeted support before children start school. Family Minister Karin Prien told the German Press Agency that every child in Germany would in future be assessed on language and development by the age of four, with follow-up help provided where needed. The cabinet in Berlin is due to discuss the draft legislation, which Prien has described as a major step for early education.
The plan centres on a new nationwide framework for screening four-year-olds, including children who are not already in childcare. According to the draft reported by Zeit in July, the assessments would cover language, motor skills and general development, with the aim of making the transition to primary school smoother and reducing the influence of family background on educational outcomes. Prien has argued that early childhood education can still make a decisive difference at that age.
Funding is a key part of the proposal. The federal government wants to set aside about €9.25 billion between 2027 and 2034, money that would support facilities in more difficult social settings and help cover extra staff and outreach. Under the draft described by t-online, centres with 80 children would receive funding for at least 20 additional staff hours a week, rising to 40 hours at more than 80 children and 60 hours at more than 120 children. The idea is to direct more resources towards settings where children face greater disadvantage.
Prien has presented the bill as a chance to shift Germany’s education policy towards earlier intervention rather than later repair. Speaking in July, she said the reforms were intended to standardise support and reduce unequal chances from the start. The federal government has also been working with the states on implementation. In a 2025 agreement with Saxony, Prien and state education minister Conrad Clemens backed the use of federal funds to improve quality and participation in childcare, underlining the political effort to build common standards without leaving local authorities to carry the burden alone.
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