Since 1 January 2024, the Centre for Childcare (ZKB) has replaced the former Association Regional Centre for Early Childhood Care (RZKB). The ZKB combines early childhood and out-of-school care as well as holiday care in one centre. The centre establishes, organises and supports childcare facilities in the German-speaking Community for all children up to the end of primary school.
Since 1 September 2024, children from the age of two and a half can attend kindergarten. Previously, the kindergarten starting age was three years.

2023

The government has established the legal basis for founding the “Centre of the German-speaking Community for Childcare.” As part of the work to reorganise early childhood care, the government adopted a draft decree in February to create this paracommunity institution. The new centre is scheduled to begin operations on 1 June, in preparation for taking over the activities of the V.o.G. RZKB in January 2024. To provide greater planning security for the Regional Centre for Early Childhood Care (RZKB), its staff, the contracted (co-) childminders, and the parents and children in East Belgium, the government is creating a publicly regulated framework adapted to current challenges through the establishment of this public interest institution.

The government is establishing the centre as early as 1 June to carry out certain preparatory tasks before taking over all responsibilities in January 2024. This includes, for example, making contract offers to staff members and the contracted childminders of the RZKB. The decree defines the centre’s area of responsibility. On the one hand, the centre will provide childcare, particularly through a childminder service, nurseries and at out-of-school care locations. On the other hand, the centre will perform tasks for the entire childcare sector, such as networking, promoting further training, and advising other service providers. The responsibilities of Kaleido East Belgium in early childhood care have already been carried out by the RZKB since 1 January. Furthermore, the decree regulates the role of the municipalities in the new institution. The contracts previously in place with the RZKB will be replaced as a result.