According to the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Länder in the Federal Republic of Germany, all-day schools are schools in which, in primary or lower secondary education:

• lunch is provided to participating students on all days of all-day operation,
• the afternoon activities are organized under the supervision and responsibility of the school management, are carried out in close cooperation with the school management and are conceptually linked to the morning lessons.

Three forms are distinguished:

• In the fully restricted form, students are required to participate in the school's all-day offerings on at least three days of the week for at least seven hours each.
• In the partially restricted form, some of the students are required to participate in the school's all-day programs on at least three days of the week for at least seven hours each.
• In the open form, a stay combined with an educational and care offer in the school is possible for the pupils on at least three weekdays for at least seven time hours each day. Participation in the all-day programs must be declared as binding by the students or their legal guardians for at least one school semester.