Certificate of suitability for kindergarten - WTF?
Again and again, and unfortunately more and more often, we see families in our practice who are completely desperate because they can't find anyone to sign a form that is a kind of "certificate of suitability for kindergarten".
The case that gave rise to this information sheet concerns a family from Syria who were able to secure a place at a kindergarten for their almost six-year-old daughter - which would undoubtedly be of considerable benefit to the girl's social integration. However, she was unable to take up the place because the family could not find anyone to sign the certificate in question.
According to §4 of the Kindergarten Care Act, this certificate is proof that a doctor has examined the child and determined that she is fit for kindergarten and has been vaccinated against measles.
The family lives around 20 kilometres away from Schorndorf and we were the sixth practice they visited with their request.
The doctor thinks so: There are several things going very wrong. One is, of course, that it's pathetic that the medical care is such that virtually no practice is in a position to carry out this examination or at least sign the note. And the second is the legal situation. We have to constantly scrutinise whether existing laws still make sense and are up to date. That seems more than questionable here.
Our practical experience is that it is very easy to clarify with parents and facilities if a child is unable to cope at nursery due to developmental abnormalities or illnesses. And we are currently in such a tight supply situation that it is simply difficult to cope. And it's simply disastrous when children, especially from families that we want to integrate here quickly, can't go to kindergarten - simply because a note like this isn't signed.
In the case in question, it went like this: the family stood in the jam-packed practice and waited. At some point, the doctor took the time, spoke briefly with the parents, exchanged two words with the child and signed the note. Of course, that's not the way it was meant to be. He would actually be obliged to take a good look at the child. But the issue is bothering him. How can we change things here and ensure that children can start their kindergarten place if they get one? The discussion is open.
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