With "Early Start," the family centers run by the Bremen Office for Social Services are becoming a bridge to Bremen's daycare centers. By developing the former playgroups into the "Early Start" project, this revised, low-threshold program from the Senator for Children and Education is aimed at families who have not yet found their way into a daycare center.
In small groups, girls and boys can gain their first group experiences and further develop their skills. Parents receive advice and support. Pick-up and drop-off services are also available.
„Access to early childhood education must not be a matter of chance„
Senator for Children and Education Mark Rackles emphasizes: “The ‘Early Start’ concept puts a key idea of the Senate’s ‘All Children in Daycare’ initiative into concrete action. The crucial approach is that the provider doesn’t wait for families to find their way to them, but instead reaches out to families themselves. Our primary goal is to reach the children who can benefit most from childcare. Access to early childhood education must not be a matter of chance.”
State Councillor Jennifer Müller-Wilckens added during a tour of the Mobile Family Center in Bremen-Hemelingen: “The family centers are particularly suitable for this low-threshold service because they are already well-connected in their neighborhoods and have established a trusting relationship with families through a wide range of services. Together with the surrounding daycare centers, transitions can be supported even more closely through trial visits and observation periods.”
“Early start” strengthens the bridging function of family homes
Senator for Social Affairs Dr. Claudia Schilling emphasizes: “For many years, low-threshold programs introducing children to Bremen’s daycare system have been offered at the Family Centers. The parent-child programs at the Family Centers are a particularly important resource for children and families facing challenging circumstances. Here, they can find opportunities to connect with others and learn about the childcare system. I am delighted that the ‘Early Start’ program will now strengthen the Family Centers’ role as a bridge to daycare centers.”
Strengthening parents, opening up opportunities for children, new perspectives for the whole family
Bettina Paul-Renken, Managing Director of the Friends of Family Centers and Family Education in Bremen, explains: “The Family Centers are easily accessible places where families can arrive without any hassle, make connections, and build trust. Here, we reach families who would otherwise have more difficulty accessing support services. The ‘Early Start’ program empowers parents, opening up opportunities for children and new perspectives for the entire family. Families who are difficult to reach through traditional channels find easy access here – and we find it easier to reach them. This experience and the close network within the neighborhood are an important foundation for the new ‘Early Start’ program.”
In the future, the transition to regular childcare will be specifically supported
This gradual development of the existing socio-educational playgroups in family homes into a low-threshold entry-level program began in the 2026/27 kindergarten year. The focus is on the targeted and careful integration of families into regular childcare services. Despite the expansion of daycare places in Bremen, families facing challenges, including those from immigrant backgrounds and families with language or organizational barriers, are still not being adequately reached. While the childcare rate increased in 2026, reaching 30.4 percent in the infant/toddler age group and 90.8 percent in the preschool age group, the transition to regular childcare will be specifically supported in the future to reach more families.
The "Moki" childcare service is being expanded in Hemelingen
After this kindergarten year, the effectiveness of the new service structure in reaching more families will be evaluated. The experience gained will determine whether the concept needs further adjustments. In Hemelingen, the flexible childcare program "Moki" complements this work. "Moki" is located in the Family Center and is aimed at families who, due to their specific circumstances, require flexible childcare support. "Moki" thus provides an important addition to the regular childcare services and can be particularly helpful where fixed childcare hours do not fit the families' realities.
"Early Start" and "Moki" pursue different but complementary approaches: "Early Start" builds bridges to the regular system and supports families taking their first steps into daycare. "Moki" offers flexible relief when family situations require special solutions, whether short-term or long-term. Together, both programs demonstrate how a family-oriented infrastructure can function effectively within a neighborhood.
What are the family's houses?
The eleven Family Houses (HdF) are neighborhood-based facilities run by the Bremen Office for Social Services and the Social Service for Young People. Located in Vahr, Horn-Lehe (including Borgfeld and Oberneuland), Huchting, Obervieland, Walle (including Gröpelingen), Mitte (including Östlicher Vorstadt and Findorff), Hemelingen (including Osterholz, Hastedt, Mahndorf, Arbergen and Sebaldsbrück), Tenever, Lüssum, Vegesack and Bockhorn, the Family Houses are situated directly within residential areas and serve as a point of contact for families in the district and beyond.
The services offered by family centers are aimed at people of all ages, especially mothers, fathers, and children from infancy onward. They support people from all social classes and population groups in their daily family life, offer assistance in stressful life situations, and provide advice on all aspects of parenting, family life, and relationships.
Source: Early Start: How to make the path to daycare easier – Senate Press Office, September 17, 2026
