A private childcare arrangement is operated by an independent childminder approved by Esbjerg Municipality. The private caregiver and parents are responsible for the framework of the service and ensuring that the agreed-upon contract is followed. The municipality conducts annual educational supervision to document compliance with the daycare law.

Several requirements are in place, including:

• The primary language spoken must be Danish. Please note that this is a requirement for the childminder and not for parents and the child/children. The primary spoken language for the childminder will be Danish, but if the childminder also speaks another language, there is nothing preventing the childminder from speaking that language to parents and/or supporting children in that language.
• The daily schedule should be organized to facilitate learning and development for the children.
• All planning should be based on the composition of the child group and their various prerequisites.
• Children should have a say in their daily routines, and the childcare arrangement should contribute to developing their independence and abilities to engage in meaningful communities.
• The private childminder should establish daily routines and familiarity.
• The private childcare arrangement should provide a learning environment that is flexible, diverse, and encourages immersion, creativity, motor skills development, and learning.
• Additionally, the private childcare arrangement must adhere to the health authorities' guidelines on "hygiene in daycare institutions" and the guidelines on "precautions against infectious diseases."

Esbjerg Municipality must inform parents about the difference between private childcare arrangements according to the Daycare Act §78 and daycare facilities according to the Daycare Act §19, paragraphs 2-5 and §21, paragraphs 2 and 3, prior to approving the care agreement.

Private childcare arrangements are not equivalent to a daycare facility and are therefore not subject to the rules that apply to daycare facilities according to the Daycare Act §§7-44.

The difference between municipal daycare and private childcare arrangement:

• In private childcare arrangements, there is no requirement to develop a pedagogical curriculum according to the Daycare Act §8 and 9. However, private childcare arrangements must work towards and organize secure learning environments that promote children's learning. In terms of content, this work should meet the requirements of the Daycare Act §8, but the form of the work is more flexible in private childcare arrangements than in other daycare facilities, according to the Daycare Act §81a, paragraph 1.
• Children with special needs have the option to seek support from the Educational Unit in the form of speech and hearing consultants, physiotherapists/occupational therapists, and psychologists. If a child requires special support, and there is a decision under the social legislation in §52 of the Service Act that a child should be admitted to a daycare facility, Esbjerg Municipality can decide that parents cannot receive subsidies for private childcare because the child's circumstances require admission to a daycare facility. This is in accordance with the Daycare Act §84, paragraph 1.
• The language assessment of the child at the age of 3 or 2 is carried out by experts from Esbjerg Municipality, according to the Daycare Act §11, paragraphs 2 and 4. Thus, the private childcare arrangement does not conduct this language assessment.
• On days when the private childcare arrangement is on vacation, closed, or if the childminder is sick, alternative care is not offered. It is the parents' responsibility to arrange care for their child. Some private childminders may use substitutes, and it may be possible to have the child cared for.
• There is no financial aid for private childcare. This means that it is not possible to receive financial aid for free placement, socio-pedagogical financial aid, treatment financial aid, or language stimulation financial aid. However, it is possible to receive sibling subsidies in private childcare arrangements, according to the Daycare Act §43 and §85.
• The subsidy for private childcare arrangements is provided from when the child is 24 weeks old until the start of school. However, the subsidy decreases the month the child turns 3 years old.

If you choose to enter into an agreement with a private childminder who takes care of your child in their home or other premises, they can care for up to four other children. The private childminder is the one who should initiate the completion of a care agreement. When the care agreement is filled out, a subsidy is also applied for.

Alternatively, you can make an agreement with someone to care for the child in your own home. The childminder can either be employed by the child's parents as the employer or be self-employed.

Esbjerg Municipality has no employer obligations towards the employed person. It is solely you who enters into the agreement for private childcare, and therefore, you have the employer obligations. Esbjerg Municipality must approve the private childminder and the agreement that is made. Read below for the rules that apply and how to apply for a subsidy.

You, as a parent, need to negotiate terms with the private childcare arrangement. This dialogue should result in a care agreement, which is the binding contract between you and the private childcare arrangement.

Esbjerg Municipality must approve the care agreement before it can take effect.

It is important that you thoroughly understand the wording of the agreement and align expectations with the private childcare arrangement before signing it. Through the electronic care agreement, you apply for subsidies. The private childminder should initiate the completion of the care agreement.

The care agreement includes, among other things:

• Content of the childcare offer
• Opening hours
• Number of childcare hours
• Number of vacation/closed days
• Monthly payment (how much and how you pay)
• Whether the childcare arrangement receives salary/vacation compensation during holidays.
• Mutual notice period. Read the section below "notice period and withdrawal."
• Agreements in connection with the childcare arrangement, such as prolonged illness.

The care agreement is electronically signed by both parties and then automatically sent to Esbjerg Municipality for approval.

Changes to the care agreement

Any changes to the care agreement must be approved by Esbjerg Municipality through a new care agreement. This could include the private childcare arrangement moving to a new residence, periodic termination, opening hours, changes to the notice period, termination of cooperation, or closed days, etc.

As a parent, you can apply for a subsidy for private childcare automatically when you fill out the care agreement with the private childminder.

The amount of the subsidy depends on your monthly childcare expenses and the number of hours of care. You can receive a maximum of 75% of your expenses, but there is a maximum subsidy amount according to the current rules. Learn more about subsidies for private childcare.

The childcare subsidy is based on full-time care, which means a minimum of 40 hours per week and above. A reduced subsidy is provided for part-time care.

Before you can receive the subsidy, the following conditions must be met:

• You must be a resident of Esbjerg Municipality.
• You must enter into a care agreement with a childminder, whom you find yourself, and both the care agreement and the person who will be caring for the child must be approved by Esbjerg Municipality.
• Neither of the parents may receive full-time parental leave pay or leave benefit for the child.

Sibling allowance

If you have more than one child enrolled in a municipal/independent daycare, after-school care/club, private institution, or private childcare, you automatically receive a sibling allowance. There are specific rules regarding the calculation of the sibling supplement.

Read more about sibling allowance

Financial subsidies

According to the Daycare Act, financial subsidies cannot be provided for private childcare.

Tax

The subsidy is tax-free for you, but for the private childminder or the private childcare arrangement, the entire amount is taxable income. The earnings are classified as B-income, and it is Esbjerg Municipality that reports the income to the tax authorities.

If you move to another municipality but your child continues childcare with the same private childminder, it is important to inform Esbjerg Municipality about the move because the subsidy should be paid by the municipality of residence.

You must apply for a subsidy for private childcare in the municipality you are moving to.

Be aware that you may be required to repay subsidies from Esbjerg Municipality. At the same time, the new municipality may refuse to provide subsidies retroactively, potentially leaving you without support for several months.

As a general rule, the private childcare arrangement closes for planned vacations, days off, participation in courses, and illness, and you are responsible for finding alternative care for your child.

Private childcare arrangements have the option to hire a substitute. The use of a substitute is temporary, for vacations, days off, course days, and illness. It is up to the private childminder whether they choose to use a substitute. Parents must always be informed about the use of a substitute. The substitute used must be approved by Esbjerg Municipality.

If a private childminder becomes seriously ill, the municipality, in very special cases after a specific assessment, may revoke the approval of the care agreement and private childcare. This will depend on the length of the sick leave and the prospect of resuming work.

In Esbjerg Municipality, subsidies are paid for 12 months, regardless of whether the private childcare arrangement is closed for holidays or not.

In all forms of private childcare, the private childminder is subject to an enhanced reporting obligation, according to Section 153 of the Social Services Act.

As a general rule, parents should always be informed and involved in matters concerning their children's well-being and development. This also applies when reporting to social authorities that their child needs support.

Parents should not be informed in cases of violence and abuse if the suspicion is directed towards one or both parents or others in a parent-like relationship to the child. If guidance is needed, you can contact Esbjerg Municipality.

The notice periods for termination, both for you and the private childminder, should be specified in the care agreement.

Esbjerg Municipality recommends a notice period of 1 month from an arbitrary date.

If a different agreement is made with a longer notice period than the recommended one, be aware that it may have consequences, such as during the private childminder's illness, relocation, new and different needs, or collaboration problems.

When you sign an agreement with private childcare, you are entering into a private legal agreement. This means that if you sign an agreement with a 3-month notice period, for example, you cannot have your child cared for elsewhere with subsidies during the notice period. According to current law, parents cannot receive two subsidies at the same time for the same child.

In connection with the termination of private childcare, your child is guaranteed a spot in a municipal daycare in one of the municipality's four guarantee districts within one month from the date you contact the Placement Office - but no earlier than the day after the withdrawal date.

If a private childcare loses its approval, Esbjerg Municipality is obligated to arrange care for the children in a daycare facility as quickly as possible – however, no later than one month from the date the revocation is implemented.

When you hire a private childminder to take care of your child, Esbjerg Municipality has no employer obligations towards the hired individual. It is solely you who enter into an agreement for childcare and, therefore, you have the employer obligations. However, Esbjerg Municipality must approve the private childminder you hire.

Several parents can also collaborate to hire a private childminder.

Childcare in your own home

Upon approval of the physical premises, safety assessments are conducted to ensure that both you and the childminder can feel secure in the environment where the childcare takes place.

If several parents collaborate to hire a childminder to work in one of the parents' homes, the physical premises must be approved based on the same criteria as private childcare arrangements, where up to 5 children are cared for.

When you hire a private childminder, you should be aware of the following requirements regarding the suitability of the employee. That is to say, the person you hire must be able to:

• The private childminder must organize daily life to promote children's learning through safe learning environments. The work with learning environments should, in terms of content, meet the requirements for learning and learning environments in daycare facilities. Similarly, the work with learning environments in individual private childcare should be based on the composition of the children's group and the children's different prerequisites. This means, among other things, that the understanding of learning in private childcare should be based on a broad concept of learning that supports children's physical and motor, social, emotional, and cognitive learning and development.
• Furthermore, private childcare should be organized to ensure children's participation, responsibility, and understanding of democracy. As part of this, private childcare should contribute to developing children's independence, abilities to engage in committed communities, and a sense of belonging to and integration into Danish society.
• The primary language in private childcare arrangements should be Danish. However, this does not apply to arrangements established by the German minority or by agreement with the municipal council.
• In special cases, the primary language may be other than Danish if it is assessed not to have integration consequences.

Additionally, the employee must:

• Have a private criminal record and child welfare check without issues that hinder the proper care of children.
• Have a residence and work permit if the employee comes from a country outside the EU/EEA.
• Speak Danish as the primary language and provide documentation of completing the 9th-grade graduation examination in Danish with a minimum grade of 2, passed 'Prøve i Dansk 2' or an equivalent level.
• Undergo a personal interview regarding personal and professional qualifications and be found suitable.
• If the person is under 18 years old, the person's guardian must also sign everything the employee signs

Before you can receive subsidies:

Before you can receive subsidies, the childminder must be approved by Esbjerg Municipality, and you must:

• Register with a CVR/SE number with the Danish Business Authority (www.virk.dk).
• Take out mandatory insurance (work injury insurance).
• Agree on wages with the childminder.
• Contribute to the Labour Market Supplementary Pension (ATP).
• Follow the rules of the Annual Leave Act and contribute to the Holiday Account.
• Comply with the Working Environment Act.

Useful addresses:

Information about the Holiday Account and ATP can be obtained from ATP Group

Information about occupational health and safety requirements can be obtained from the Danish Working Environment Authority

Information about insurance matters can be obtained from "Forsikring and Pension" 

Once Esbjerg Municipality has received your subsidy application, the supervisor consultant will contact you to arrange a meeting with you and the childminder. During the meeting, the childminder's personal and professional qualifications are assessed, and the care agreement is completed.

Before the meeting, you must submit:

• Documentation that the mandatory work injury insurance is in place, and there is a valid CVR/SE number.
• Documentation of a work permit if the childminder comes from a country outside the EU/EEA.
• Documentation of completing the 9th-grade graduation examination in Danish with a minimum grade of 2, passed 'Prøve i Dansk 2', or an equivalent level.
• The agreement is signed by both you and the childminder at the meeting.

Administration Offered by the Municipality

When you hire a private childminder and become an employer, there are tasks related to, for example, salary payments, ATP and holiday pay contributions, sick pay, and maternity leave that need to be handled.

You can choose to manage these tasks yourself, but Esbjerg Municipality can also offer you the option, for a fee equivalent to the costs of the task, to have a private company handle the arrangement. If you would like more information about this, feel free to contact us. See contact information in the contact box on this page.

When you, as a parent, are the employer, a care agreement must be completed, where you simultaneously apply for subsidies. The care agreement should also include:

• Agreements on the content of other tasks and the time spent on them. If tasks such as cleaning, shopping, taking care of siblings, and similar tasks are performed, there will be a corresponding reduction in the subsidy calculation.
• Agreements on meals/accommodation.

Complete the Care Agreement

Here you will find the document* you need to fill out if you hire a childminder.

*The document is unfortunately only available in Danish. We are working on an English version. In the meantime, you can get assistance filling out the document by contacting us.

Esbjerg Municipality conducts supervision of private childcare in accordance with current legislation. 

Both announced and unannounced inspections are carried out.

The private childcare arrangement is obligated to cooperate with Esbjerg Municipality regarding supervision.

After each inspection, the private childcare arrangement receives a supervision report, which must be available in a visible place until the next supervision report is received. If the private childminder is employed by parents and works at the child's residence, the report is sent to the parents.

If you experience concerning practices or a lack of compliance with the agreed-upon care agreement, you can contact the supervisor consultant in Daycare. You can find the contact information for Daycare by clicking 'contact us' on the right side.

In connection with your inquiry, the administration has an obligation to make a note, according to the Public Information Act § 13.

The municipality does not intervene in private legal matters, such as disputes between childminders and parents.