City Council adopts minimum standards for after-school care centres in primary and special schools
The city council today approved minimum standards and general conditions for after-school care rooms in Chemnitz primary and special schools. Accordingly, the following minimum standard applies for the provision of after-school care rooms:
- 1 class: at least 1 separate after-school care room with approx. 50 m²
- 2 classes: at least 2 separate after-school care rooms with approx. 100 m²
- 3 classes: at least 3 separate after-school care rooms with approx. 150 m²
- 4 classes: at least 4 separate after-school care rooms with approx. 200 m²
In addition, the following rooms and equipment must be provided for after-school facilities: a homework room, a supervisor's room with PC, a staff room for the specialist staff with PC and changing room, counselling rooms, a store, other functional rooms and a multi-purpose room that can also be used for sports activities. If classrooms and after-school care rooms are used for two purposes, these rooms should be equipped with flexible and mobile furniture for both types of use.
When utilising existing buildings, it must be checked in each individual case whether it is possible to use individual group rooms in excess of the minimum standard. Falling below the minimum standard is permitted in exceptional cases and only due to structural conditions. The minimum area of 2.5 m² per after-school child in group rooms must be adhered to.
The above minimum standard must be complied with in new buildings. In addition, at least half of the required group area must be available for separate after-school care use. Where possible, the functional rooms are to be built as separate rooms with the specified equipment.
The implementation of the standards may have an impact on the number of pupils in individual primary and special schools in existing buildings and lead to additional requirements for new classrooms or schools. A step-by-step approach to implementation is therefore advisable.