A daycare provider is the organization or institution that operates a daycare centre and is responsible for its management and administration. In North Rhine-Westphalia, there are four types of providers that receive funding under the Child Education Act: Municipal providers, independent providers, church providers or parent initiatives.

The tasks of a provider are varied and important for the smooth running of the daycare center. Here are some of the main tasks:

• Administration and organization: The provider ensures that the daycare centre is well organized and managed. As the employer of the people working in the daycare center, their tasks also include hiring and paying the staff. It is also responsible for maintaining the buildings and procuring materials so that the daycare center meets legal requirements.
• Pedagogical concept: The provider develops and is responsible for the daycare center's pedagogical concept. This means that it ensures that the children are supported according to their needs and abilities and are provided with a caring and safe environment. They are therefore also responsible for the quality assurance and development of the daycare center.
• Financing: The provider is responsible for financing the daycare center. It ensures that the money is used wisely to guarantee a high quality of education and care.
• Cooperation with parents: The provider works closely with parents to promote a trusting and cooperative relationship. Regular parents' evenings and feedback meetings are important here.
• Compliance with laws and standards: The provider ensures that all legal requirements and quality standards are adhered to. This applies, for example, to the number and qualifications of educational staff, but also to safety and hygiene standards.

A provider therefore plays a central role in the background to ensure that children are well looked after in the daycare center, feel comfortable and that their educational processes can be adequately supported. In North Rhine-Westphalia, there are five different forms of sponsorship.

A municipal provider is a city, municipality or district that operates and manages a childcare facility. Municipal providers are therefore public institutions that are managed directly by the respective municipal administrations.

A recognized provider of independent youth welfare is an organization or institution that has been officially recognized by a youth welfare office to provide services in the field of youth welfare.

Church providers within the meaning of the Child Education Act are the Protestant Church and the Catholic Church. They are also officially recognized by a youth welfare office to offer services in the area of youth welfare.

A parents' initiative is a special form of sponsorship for daycare centers in which parents themselves assume responsibility for the operation of a daycare center. This type of sponsorship is characterized by a high degree of commitment and co-determination on the part of the parents.

Providers can also be companies, private commercial providers and non-recognized providers of independent youth welfare services. The same legal standards apply to them as to all other providers. However, they do not receive any state funding in accordance with the Child Education Act, but are free to determine the amount of parental contributions.