District councilor Krug visits his old school – insight into learning!

District councilor Krug visits his old school – insight into learning!

The Vogelsberg district committee has once again shown how important the schools in the region are to them. On June 17, 2025, the first district councilor Patrick Krug visited the Astrid Lindgren School (ALS) in Grebenau, where he himself studied between 1994 and 1999. He was accompanied by Stefan Schmidt, head of the Office for Building Construction, Energy and Building Management, and Matthias Röse, head of the Office for School Education and Care. Together they explored the premises of the school, which plays a special role in the Vogelsberg district with around 100 children and twelve committed teachers.

The ALS is particularly characterized by its entry level, which supports children from the age of five in the first two years of school. After two years, the move to the second class takes place. Headmaster Susanne Sinnermann-Otto and her colleague Manuela Eichler led the guests through classrooms, childcare rooms and the schoolyard, which has a soccer field, climbing opportunities and a small forest.

Fit for the future with all-day offers

But the visit wasn't just nostalgia. The Astrid Lindgren School plans to expand its childcare offerings and switch to the all-day package from the 2026/27 school year. From August 1, 2026, all primary school-age children have a legal right to full-day care, which means that the school is actively working to implement this important issue. The all-day offers promote the technical, social and individual development of children and are particularly popular with families with fewer resources. Overall, all children in grades 1 to 4 should be entitled to all-day education and care by 2029.

The federal government is supporting this change with a huge investment volume of 3.5 billion euros for infrastructure and equipment. The states contribute 30 percent of the costs in order to advance implementation. “The quality of all-day offers is crucial for their positive impact on education and skills,” emphasizes the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, which also uses the results of accompanying research to further develop the education system.

Challenges and solutions

During the school visit, Patrick Krug showed understanding for the limited spatial conditions of ALS. “Major investments are difficult due to the current budget situation,” he indicated. Nevertheless, smaller measures are planned, such as renovating the basement to create storage space, in order to improve the overall conditions for optimal care and teaching.

The Astrid Lindgren School is therefore faced with exciting challenges that not only affect all children, but also the entire school and family community in the Vogelsberg district. “We have a great interest in the school running well and will continue to support the school family,” Krug concluded. With a clear plan for the future and a commitment to all-day provision, the school is on a promising path.

For further information about the all-day offers and their expansion in Germany, you can visit the website BMBF as well as the All-day schools visit. A deeper insight into the district committee's visit can also be found at LifePR.