What is my advantage of using LITTLE BIRD?
LITTLE BIRD stands for :
- fair allocation
- equality of opportunities
- accessibility
- parents’ right of choice
- transparency
- overview of all potential childcare places
- advanced communication
LITTLE BIRD can be used comfortably from home, from your computer, smartphone or tablet at any time. Of course you still have the option to put your inquiry directly to the day-care center.
LITTLE BIRD is a search engine: At the parent´s portal you can easily get well arranged information about the provider of childcare – without commitment and registration.
Put a care request with LITTLE BIRD: After your registration and login at the parent´s portal you can request your favored childcare place, also several in parallel. In doing so, it is not important whether the provider of childcare currently has free capacities.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why do I have to register?
2. How do I inquire childcare places?
3. What is meant by “priority” in the care inquiry?
4. How do I know if I get a childcare place or not?
5. Why do I only get one place offer?
6. How can I get in contact with the child care center or child minder directly?
7. What do I have to consider when filling out the online forms?
8. If I create an inquiry for an unborn child, why do I have to fill in the first and last name?
9. Why is the telephone number mandatory for an inquiry?
10. Do I have to give a second contractor?
11. How can I change my personal information subsequently? (e.g. after a relocation, birth of the child, change of priorities, etc.)
12. How can I slot my children/ multiples in the same facility?
13. How long does it take until I get a reply?
14. Why do I have to introduce myself in person?
1. Why do I have to register?
A registration is necessary if you are looking for a child care place. Only by registering and logging in you will be able to check the current status of your application, save your search details and template.
2. How do I inquire childcare places?
In order to inquire a child care place you have to register first. Click on the “Search care” button to get to the online form. You have to fill in all marked arrays (labeled with *) and then submit your application. The child care provider will get notified about your request.
For reasons of fairness and accessibility it is still possible to inquire a child care place personally. In addition to that, many local municipalities have a contact point where you can seek further advice.
Caution: If you want to save your personal information for further inquiries you have to tick the appropriate box on the online form.
3. What is meant by “priority” in the care inquiry?
For reasons of fairness and accessibility it is still possible to inquire a child care place personally. In addition to that, many local municipalities have a contact point where you can seek further advice.
Caution: If you want to save your personal information for further inquiries you have to tick the appropriate box on the online form.
4. How do I know if I get a childcare place or not?
Possible States (progress) of your Application: send, assigned, activ, completed
Your inquiry in the administrative system is completed
…because you received a place offer or contract. Thereby, your child is regarded as provided for.
All other inquiries within the requested time frame are now marked as completed.
…because the child care facility does not have any capacities for the conditions you requested and has declined your inquiry.
The concerned institution or day care will contact you independently to the Portal. Please have a little patience.
5. Why do I only get one place offer?
LITTLE BIRD guarantees equal opportunities for everyone, which means that it is not possible for parents to get more than one place offer at the same time while others have to wait longer or not get an offer at all. As soon as you receive a place offer from a care facility all other inquiries are paused. If you accept the place offer your child is regarded as provided for. If you decline the place offer all other inquiries are activated again.
Caution: In case you wish to switch facilities it is possible to get more than one place offers at the same time because there is no urgent need to find a child care.
6. How can I get in contact with the child care center or child minder directly?
You simply click on the contact information on the care centers’ profile. If there is no contact information, please contact your local municipality.
7. What do I have to consider when filling out the online forms?
Please make sure all of your personal information is correct. Fill out all the marked arrays (labeled with *). This also applies for unborn children. In this case, the system needs placeholders. After the birth you have the option to modify the information.
8. If I create an inquiry for an unborn child, why do I have to fill in the first and last name?
The system needs information about the first and last name to process the inquiry. Incomplete information cannot be submitted or processed. You can fill in provisional information or placeholders like “first name: unknown”. After birth, the child care facility or local municipality has the option to change and modify the information.
Please note that each municipality / city can decide for itself whether reservations for unborn children are permitted or not.
9. Why is the telephone number mandatory for an inquiry?
For the provider of childcare it is the best solution to contact you in case of further questions.
10. Do I have to give a second contractor?
Yes. If you are married or if you have joint custody for the child you are registering, you need to name the second contractor in your application.
11. How can I change my personal information subsequently? (e.g. after a relocation, birth of the child, change of priorities, etc.)
As for now, changing your personal information subsequently on your own is not possible. In case you need to change your information, please contact the child care facility or local municipality.
12. How can I slot my children/ multiples in the same facility?
Please raise a request for each child individually. In the comment section on the form you will have the option to state that you are looking for child care for multiple children in the same facility.
If one of your children already has a spot in a child care facility, you have the option to state this in your application.
13. How long does it take until I get a reply?
This is varies from city to city. LITTLE BIRD has no influence in the matter. The rule of thumb is: the sooner you apply the better.
14. Why do I have to introduce myself in person?
For security reasons a personal introduction is required to verify you as the person who is demanding the care place. Thus, a pseudo or joke-request can be ruled out. Consequently, your care inquiry can be taken into consideration during the allocation process.
If you have any other questions, please contact your childcare center/child minder directly.
