Introduction/specifics
Welcome to Sonnenburg Daycare Centre!
Nestled in the heart of Borken-Gemen, in a family-friendly residential area, you will find our Catholic daycare centre, Sonnenburg. Since 1971, we have been accompanying children and their families through an important stage of life. Children from diverse backgrounds, cultures, religions, and family structures come together here to experience community, diversity, and mutual respect.
Our goal is to support, strengthen, and encourage each child in their individual development. Together with families, we create a place where children feel safe and secure, can develop their personalities, and discover the world with curiosity and confidence.
A Place to Feel at Home, Learn and Explore
Sonnenburg is a vibrant and lively place. Here, children play, laugh, explore, build, create, tell stories, and learn. We view children as active participants in their own development and shape our educational approach around their interests, needs, and strengths.
Following the idea of Galileo Galilei:
“You cannot teach a person anything; you can only help them discover it within themselves.”
we support children as they gain their own experiences, find solutions, and become independent thinkers and learners.
Christian Values in Everyday Life
As a Catholic institution, we embrace Christian values such as compassion, respect, tolerance, and responsibility. Religious celebrations, traditions, and stories are an integral part of everyday life in our daycare centre. At the same time, we welcome and value all people regardless of their background or religion.
It is important to us that children experience a sense of community, learn consideration for others, and understand that every person is welcome with their unique abilities and characteristics.
Our Special Services
We offer families a wide range of care and support options:
- Full-day care for children enrolled for 35 or 45 hours per week
- Breakfast buffet in a welcoming community setting
- Inclusive care for children with diverse needs
- Early screening for reading and spelling difficulties (BISC)
- Language development programme "Listen, Hear, Learn"
- Mixed-age and age-specific projects
- Age-group activities, cross-group meetings, and excursions
- Regular developmental documentation and parent consultations
- Qualified staff with a variety of specialist certifications
- Holiday childcare in cooperation with St. Marien Kindergarten
- Individual settling-in programmes tailored in close cooperation with parents
Since 2013, together with St. Marien Kindergarten, we have been part of the certified Christus König Family Centre.
Rooms Designed for Discovery
Over the years, our centre has been expanded and modernised several times. Today, we provide space for four groups of children ranging from infancy to school age.
Each group has spacious activity rooms, additional play areas, sleeping and quiet rooms, as well as child-friendly washrooms with changing facilities. The rooms are designed according to the interests and needs of the children and are continuously adapted and developed.
Special play and learning areas include:
- Role-play areas with a pretend grocery shop
- Building and construction areas
- Movement rooms with climbing and riding opportunities
- Comfortable quiet corners for resting and reading
- Ball pool and movement activities
- Children's café for breakfast and lunch
Through our partially open concept, children can explore a variety of areas throughout the centre and choose play and learning environments that match their interests.
Our Outdoor Area
Our nature-inspired outdoor area was completely redesigned in 2018. It offers children a wide range of opportunities for play, movement, and exploration:
- Climbing tower with slide, climbing wall, and balance trail
- Various swings
- Paths for ride-on vehicles
- Sand play areas
- Raised garden beds for planting and gardening together
- Terraces and outdoor retreat spaces
For our youngest children, we also provide a separate protected outdoor area specifically designed to meet the needs of children under the age of three.
Our Educational Approach
Our work is based on the Child Education Act (KiBiz), the Child and Youth Welfare Act, and the educational principles of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia.
Our educational work focuses on ten key areas of learning:
- Physical movement
- Health, wellbeing, and nutrition
- Language and communication
- Social and intercultural education
- Artistic and creative development
- Religion and ethics
- Mathematics
- Science and technology
- Environmental education
- Media education
Particularly important to us are:
- Children's participation in decision-making processes
- Free choice of play and learning activities
- Shared meals in a pleasant and relaxed atmosphere
- Individual support and guidance for every child
Our Team
Guided by the motto:
“We are a strong team!”
our educational professionals work together with trust, commitment, and enthusiasm.
Our team consists of:
- One centre manager
- Twelve state-certified early childhood educators
- One childcare assistant
- One housekeeping staff member
- One everyday support assistant
Regular professional development and training ensure the high quality of our educational work.
Special Qualifications of Our Team
- Specialists for children under three years of age
- Inclusion and integration specialists
- Marte Meo practitioners and a Marte Meo therapist
- Child protection specialists in accordance with Section 8a
- Language development specialists
- Specialists trained in rhythmic and movement education
Commitment to Continuous Quality Improvement
High-quality early childhood education requires ongoing development. Therefore, we work together with other childcare centres to continuously improve and evaluate our work using the PIM Quality Assurance Model. Regular self-evaluations, reflection, and development goals help us maintain and further enhance the quality of our educational practice.
Working Together with Parents for the Benefit of the Child
A trusting partnership with parents is the foundation of a successful kindergarten experience. Parents know their child best, and we accompany them throughout their daily experiences at Sonnenburg. Through open communication, regular conversations, and mutual appreciation, we create the best possible conditions for each child's development.
Our wish is that children and their families look back on their time at Sonnenburg with happiness and remember it as a place where they felt welcomed, supported, respected, and valued.
Sonnenburg Daycare Centre
A Place to Grow, Learn, Discover, and Feel at Home.
www.familienzentrum-christus-koenig-gemen.de
