Parents in Bad Oldesloe: Sibling discount for OGS no longer applies!

Parents in Bad Oldesloe: Sibling discount for OGS no longer applies!

In Bad Oldesloe, the meeting of the Stormarn Finance Committee on November 25, 2025 was a hotly debated topic: the abolition of the sibling discount for childcare in the open all-day school (OGS). Around ten parents, comprising mothers and fathers, were on site and expressed their frustration over the rising costs. These not only affect the care of their children, but also the general financial situation - rising housing costs and stagnating wages are causing problems for many families. Political decision-makers had to face the seriousness of the situation, as the budget deficit of millions required a rigorous change of course.

The CDU parliamentary group leader Joachim Wagner described the reduction as a privilege for Stormarn parents, a regulation that will be completely eliminated from January 1, 2026. The sibling discount in daycare is reduced from 70% to 50% for the second child. This decision is met with great incomprehension by the affected parents, who have to expect additional costs of 30 to 50 euros per month. Some parents even fear expenses of up to 250 euros if they do not make adjustments quickly.

Financial backgrounds

The financial situation in the Stormarn district is serious. With a deficit of 30 million euros for the current year and 44.5 million euros for 2026, savings are being sought in various areas, including the OGS. District Administrator Henning Görtz explained that before the new daycare law, a daycare place cost between 600 and 700 euros. The price is currently around 230 euros and shows that the costs of care are not only an issue for families, but also for politicians.

A ray of hope for needy families could be the social scale, which makes it possible to apply for discounts if social benefits are available - such as citizen's benefit or housing benefit. This regulation, which is issued as part of Section 7 of the Schleswig-Holstein Child Day Care Act (KiTaG), aims to relieve the burden on siblings of primary school students and overall to end the unequal treatment of OGS compared to after-school care. The application is submitted by the parents, whereby they can also access other forms of support, such as educational and participation services, which are provided for socially disadvantaged children up to the age of majority.

Future conversations and solutions

In order to meet the challenges in child care, SPD politician Frank Schmalowsky is already planning talks with the state to possibly create nationwide OGS regulations. For many parents, this is the key to a more sustainable solution. The current situation makes it clear that it is time to consider drastic changes that not only take the financial situation of families into account, but also ensure the quality of care for children in the long term.

The topic is explosive and affects numerous families in the region. When asked how serious the impact of the abolition of the sibling discount will be, many parents shake their heads incomprehension. Financial pressure remains high and solutions are needed!