Age 3-6

Most children in Austria attend Kindergarten on reaching three years old, however there is no legal requirement to send your child to Kindergarten. Formal education in Austria does not start until six years old. Kindergartens broadly fall into two categories: State run (Geminde) or private. In the private sector there are many different "flavours" of Kindergarten and choice might depend on your language requirements, hours of care, age of children accepted, and cost, to name but a few.

State (Geminde) Kindergarten

Description:  For children age 3-6 (mixed age group classes), group size up to 24 with a ratio of 1 teacher and 1 teaching assistant per class. Many are open 07:00-18:00, sometimes 51 weeks per year or with alternate cover at another local Kindergarten during holiday closure. Preference is given to working mothers when allocating places.
Pros:  Long opening hours with very few holiday closures. Reduced charges for low-income families. 

Cons:  You must apply by a set date in February of the year you require a September place. You only find out between March and May where you have a place. You may not be offered a place in your first or second choice of Kindergarten. 

How to find one:

*  Location of all Stadt Wien Kindergartens by District (in German)

*  Location of District administration offices

Address:

Magistratsabteilung 10 - WIENER KINDERGÄRTEN
1030, Rüdengasse 11
Tel: 01 277 55 55
Email:  post@m10.magwien.gv.at

You should make direct contact with the kindergarten itself for viewings (but not for the application process). Registration and queries about places are dealt with centrally at one of the local administration offices. You can apply on-line (German only), by post, fax, or in person at district office. Registration in February for the following September (registration at any time is possible if you urgently need a childcare place but choice will be limited).

Private Kindergarten (German & Bilingual)

Description:  Group childcare for age 3-6 (some accept children from age and/or include a Krippe). Ratio of caregivers to children can be as low as 1 to 7, but the legal maximum is 2 carers (one kindergarten teacher plus one assistant) to 24 children. Flexible hours of care, option to include meals. In addition to the "mainstream" kindergartens there are a number of alternatives that you might consider:

Pfarrkindergarten – church linked (worth considering irrespective of your own beliefs), holiday closures aligned to schools 
Betreibskindergarten – company provided, but run independently (also for non-company children if space permits)

Bilingual

Montessori

Waldorf (Rudolf Steiner) 

Pros:  There is a wide choice of childcare philosophies. Flexible start and registration providing spaces are available. Often care is offered in more than one language.  

Cons:  Some private kindergartens cost more than a State Kindergarten. Some may have more holiday closures than State Kindergartens. A Kindergarten's ethos on what constitues a bilingual environment may not meet the expectations of a non-German speaking parent.

How to find one:  A list of private Kindergartens can be found in the phone book, general information can be found  www.kinderdrehscheibe.at and www.kindergarten.at. 

German speaking – there are a number of Kindergarten companies with locations throughout the city:

Kinderfreunde

Kindercompany

Alt Wien 

Kinder in Wien (KIWI)

Bilingual – Kindergartens that specifically advertise as bilingual include the following (this is not a definitive list):

United Children, 2nd & 6th Districts

Arche Noah, 10th District

Kinderoase Weimar, 18th District

Kindergarten Schmetterling, 19th District

Privatkindergarten Sievering, 19 District

Internationaler Kindergarten Der Wiener Kinderfreunde, 22nd District, Wagramer Strasse 55/1, 1220 Tel: 01 203 78 08

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Private Kindergarten  (English)

Description:  English is the working language, otherwise the basic description is the same as for State and German/Bilingual Kindergartens. 

Pros:  Your child may feel more comfortable and able to learn more quickly if English is your mother tongue. Useful if you are only living temporarily in Austria or if your child already speaks two languages (other than German). 

Cons:  Your child has little exposure to German which can make it harder to integrate with the local community. These are generally the most expensive of all the Kindergartens in Vienna. The Kindergartens that are connected to international schools (American Community Preschool, Danube International School, AIS and VIS) follow the main school holidays.
How to find one:

Montessori Kindergarten, 1st District

Danube International School, 2nd District

International Private Children’s House, 7th  District

American Community Preschool, 19th District. Tel: 01 369 2773

American International School, 19th District (from age 4)

The Children’s House, 22nd District

Vienna English Preschool, 22nd District

Vienna International School, 22nd District

Kindergruppe

Description: A parent-run Kindergarten group of no more than 15 children with 2-3 staff members. Parents must commit to helping  the group by rotating responsibilities including cooking, cleaning, and light maintenance. Parents are elected to administrative positions such as Chair, Finance Officer, etc.
Pros:  Very group oriented, excellent ratio of carers to children, individual needs of child can be considered, parental wishes can be heard and implemented with a majority vote. Meals are homemade, well balanced and often organic.
Cons:  Requires considerable parental involvement and commitment, most are closed during school holidays, must maintain good working relationships with other parents, childcare philiosphy may not match your requirements.
How to find one:  Dachverband der Wiener Kindergruppen Tel: 01 585 7244 www.wiener.kindergruppen.at. Also check the book Kind in Wien or go to the Kinder Information Centre in the Museumsquartier.

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Babysitting

For babysitting information that includes babysitters, au pairs, Tagesmutters, etc., see our Age 0-3 section.

City Kids Club

This activity centre located in the 1st District offers babysitting for children age 3-10 whilst parents shop, sightsee or just escape for coffee.