Introduction/specifics

Living, playing, learning, believing, and laughing together

The Mariä Himmelfahrt kindergarten is located in the western outskirts of Bad Neustadt.

The facility has been continuously modernized and adapted to modern needs. In 2022, a modern new building was added to the existing kindergarten, and the existing rooms were renovated and integrated. The building now offers space for 99 children, who are cared for in two crèche groups and in the open-plan kindergarten. The building, with its facilities and the newly designed outdoor play area, offers both crèche and kindergarten children ample space to develop. Qualified staff provide dedicated educational work with the children.

With its kindergarten, the Catholic church foundation Mariä Himmelfahrt offers a complementary program for families. It aims to support parents in their child-rearing responsibilities and contribute to ensuring that children receive the best possible support for healthy physical, mental, and spiritual development during this crucial phase of life.

Our Mariä Himmelfahrt kindergarten is a place for children and parents to live, where they should feel accepted and comfortable despite their diverse life situations. The Christian view of humanity and our church-sponsored sponsorship shape our work. We teach Christian values ​​to the children. Peace, love, charity, and justice are integral to our work. The child is our focus, and we treat them with appreciation, respect, mindfulness, and empathy. Therefore, children of all faiths are warmly welcome. Our kindergarten is a place of security where all children can grow up in a safe and trusting atmosphere.

The Kindergarten (ages 3-6)

In our kindergarten, we operate according to an open concept. The goal of an open kindergarten is to enable children to develop a high degree of independence and personal responsibility. Our rooms are flexibly designed and are arranged into specialized areas based on the children's interests and needs. In all rooms, the children find challenges that promote their individual development. During free play time, they can freely choose between the learning workshop, construction room, role-play room, gym, studio, wood workshop, active corridor, and outdoor area. They also decide for themselves which activities and projects they would like to participate in. The open spaces give all children the opportunity to develop their own interests and abilities. There is plenty of room for self-directed learning, participation, and involvement. The open concept aims to raise children to be self-confident, social, creative, and responsible individuals who grow up in an open and inclusive community.

Special features:

We are a language kindergarten with an additional language specialist, funded by the state of Bavaria.

Weekly adventure day and forest day.

Every two weeks we visit  the Mariä Himmelfahrt parish library.

Reading mentors introduce the children to the world of books every week.

Every two weeks, the children sing with deanery cantor Matthias Braun.

Once a month, the deacon comes to the kindergarten for a service.

Various collaborations with external institutions.

DiQM system, which is regularly optimized.

Information system: KiKom app.

Rooms

Kindergarten:

The facility has been continually modernized and adapted to modern needs.

The open-plan concept offers children ample opportunity for personal development. Individualized support is available. During free play time, children can choose between the following learning spaces:

- Learning room

- Construction room

- Role-play room

- Movement space

- Creative space

- Wood workshop

- Active corridor

- Outdoor area

Nursery:

The nursery was newly built in 2022 and equipped specifically for children under three years of age. The children are cared for in two group rooms, but also have shared play areas:

- A spacious foyer

- Two group rooms, each with an adjoining bedroom

- A shared, very spacious restroom with two changing areas and two small toilets

- A private outdoor area

Outdoor Facilities

The newly designed outdoor play area offers nursery and kindergarten children plenty of space to develop.

The outdoor area is open daily as an additional learning space. We play outside every afternoon.

The neighboring park offers additional outdoor play opportunities.

Daily Schedule

Daily routine Kindergarten

7.00 a.m. - 9.00 a.m. Time to bring

7.00 a.m. - 8.00 a.m. Early service in the learning room

from 8:00 a.m. Opening of the learning spaces - free play time until 11.30 Uhr

free breakfast in the dining room until 10.30 a.m.

10.30 a.m. Project time - time for activities in which the children can participate

11.30 a.m. Dialogue session - the children meet with their educator and talk about their morning

         11.30 a.m. Lunch for the younger children

12.00 a.m.  Middle Children's Lunch

         12.00 a.m. Dream time of the younger children or the opportunity for a nap

         12.00 a.m. Meeting of preschool children

12:45 p.m. Lunch for the preschool children

          12:45 p.m. Dream time of the middle children

1.00 p.m. The garden opens, in bad weather the learning rooms open

2:30 p.m. Play circle

3:00 p.m. afternoon snack

afterwards free play in the garden or in a learning room

Pick-up time: Anytime from 12:00 p.m. and by arrangement.

Daily Routine at the Nursery

7:00 a.m. Arrival at the nursery, children play in groups and can move around in the foyer.

time to bring until 9:00 a.m.

9:00 a.m. Morning Circle

Free play time from 9:15 a.m. - The children engage with various play materials or participate in targeted activities according to their interests and needs. Toilet training also takes place during this time - the children are changed or go to the toilet. Free breakfast until 10:30 a.m. 10:45 a.m. Outdoor exercise (weather dependent) or free play

11:30 a.m. Lunch

12:00 p.m. Nap time; children who are no longer sleeping have dream time and can play in the foyer.

2:30 p.m. Afternoon snack

3:00 p.m. Nursery closes; children with longer bookings are cared for in the kindergarten.

Pick-up time: Anytime from 12:00 p.m. and by arrangement.

Food

At our kindergarten, the children receive full board.

We prepare breakfast and an afternoon snack for the children. We charge a flat rate of €12 per month.

Lunch is freshly prepared daily by our cook. This can be ordered on a daily basis. A fee of €3 per meal is charged separately.

The children are involved in the preparation and can help.

Basics

The Kindergarten (ages 3-6)

In our kindergarten, we operate according to an open concept. The goal of an open kindergarten is to enable children to develop a high degree of independence and personal responsibility. Our rooms are flexibly designed and are arranged into specialized areas based on the children's interests and needs. In all rooms, the children find challenges that promote their individual development. During free play time, they can freely choose between the learning workshop, construction room, role-play room, gym, studio, wood workshop, active corridor, and outdoor area. They also decide for themselves which activities and projects they would like to participate in. The open spaces give all children the opportunity to develop their own interests and abilities. There is plenty of room for self-directed learning, participation, and involvement. The open concept aims to raise children to be self-confident, social, creative, and responsible individuals who grow up in an open and inclusive community.

Nursery (ages 1-3 )

The nursery has two groups, each with 12 places, where permanent staff are continuously deployed to build a positive relationship with the children. The daily routine and the rooms are tailored to the diverse needs of the daycare children (playing, exercising, eating, drinking, changing diapers, sleeping, and physical contact). Familiar, recurring routines provide structure for the child—external structures form internal structures.

The children are supported in their development of independence and self-confidence. This means giving them space to explore their own experiences, whether it's feeding themselves, dressing themselves, or exploring their surroundings. Participation, i.e., age-appropriate involvement, is practiced. Day-to-day activities in the daycare center are based on the Bavarian Education and Care Plan to provide the best possible support for the children in all areas of development (language, motor skills, social/emotional development, practical life skills, and cognitive development).

We place particular emphasis on the child's settling-in period and, later, on a smooth transition to kindergarten. During the settling-in period, which parents should plan for approximately four weeks, the focus is on building a relationship between the child and the staff. When a child feels safe and secure, they can explore their environment freely and without stress. This feeling of security is the foundation for a good start to a new phase of life. During the settling-in period, the primary caregiver (usually a parent) acts as a "safe haven" to which the child can return when necessary. Before the transition to kindergarten, a meeting is held with the parents and a staff member from the nursery and kindergarten. To ease the transition, a teacher accompanies the child for an extended period.

Specifics

Special features:

• We are a language kindergarten with an additional language specialist, funded by the state of Bavaria.
• Once a month, the deacon comes to the facility for church services.
• Various collaborations with external institutions.
• DiQM system, which is regularly optimized.
• Information system: KiKom app.

Special features of the kindergarten:

• Weekly adventure day and forest day.
• Biweekly visit to the parish library 
• Reading mentors introduce the children to the world of books every week.
• Every two weeks, the children sing with deanery cantor Matthias Braun.
• Preparatory German course.
• Preschool concept in the final year of kindergarten.

Special features of the nursery:

• Spacious foyer with mobile movement elements, such as a ball pit, vehicles, and a movement landscape.
• The foyer serves both as a place for the children to indulge their natural urge to move and as a place for encounters. The children from both daycare groups meet and participate in joint activities with the kindergarten children. 
• Wednesday is our gymnastics day, and we exercise in the kindergarten's large gym. 
• Daily outdoor exercise through walks or playing outside. 
• Occasional excursions on the "Nessi" city bus. 
• Permanent daycare staff with many years of professional experience who continue their training through regular continuing education.
•  Our own, needs-based transition concept: from daycare to kindergarten.