Yeah I hear it can be quite tough!
My sister in law used to live in Witten (about 30mins away from Wuppertal), and it took them a while to get their son into one. Only then he refused to stay there, and the Kindergarden kept ringing her up and making her take him home!
Woah, that's a killer long notice period!
And no, no kids, not yet! although, 2ww! So maybe soon!