Introduction/specifics

Vision Statement

Children are at the center of our house. They should feel comfortable and at home with us. We meet our entrusted children at eye level and treat each other with care and sensitivity. We offer the children a foundation of trust, encouragement, and appreciation and let ourselves be guided by the Christian view of humanity. Our goal is to prepare children for their lives and to give them important competencies for successful cooperation and a self-determined life. In this, we see ourselves as a valuable support, companions, and trusted individuals. We create an inviting atmosphere in our facility where parents and children feel welcome. Parents who entrust their children to us with confidence receive safety and opportunities for participation through the high transparency of our work. In our house, pedagogical professionals work who expand their knowledge through regular training, further education, and team reflection and exchange with one another. We are people of the heart, forming a supportive community from many capabilities and viewing our diversity as an enrichment. Our strength comes from the experiences with the children and the joy they give us, as well as from a respectful interaction with the parents. Through trusting relationships among us and through good cooperation with our partners, we go through our daily routine strengthened.

Educational Approach – Kindergarten

The educational approach of our Catholic kindergarten is based on the fundamental values of the Christian faith. In our kindergarten, the children should not only be cared for but also supported and accompanied. We want to offer them a positive and loving atmosphere in which they can freely develop and grow their personalities. Great emphasis is placed on holistic development that considers the physical, intellectual, emotional, and social development of the children. We align with the individual needs and abilities of each child. At the center of our educational work is the transmission of Christian values such as charity, tolerance, respect, and responsibility. We want to help the children develop an awareness of their fellow human beings and their environment and encourage them to actively work for a just and peaceful society. We want to impart the basics of the Christian faith and give them the opportunity to discover and unfold their own spirituality. We regularly celebrate religious festivals throughout the year, as well as services with our community, to give the children access to Catholic tradition.

Educational Approach – Crèche

In our crèche, we combine several pedagogical models. We work, among other things, with the approaches of Emmi Pikler and the situation-oriented approach of Armin Krenz, but primarily guided by the needs and developmental level of each individual child. Fundamentally, we ensure that through a clearly structured daily routine and daily repetitions, we provide the security they need to support their personal development, to explore, and to gain experiences for life.

Rooms

Our day-care center is located in the idyllic rural setting of Oberreitnau and, in our newly renovated building, offers the children a loving place to play, explore, and grow.

In every group room, we provide the children with a wide range of play materials that foster creativity and independence. Each material encourages the children to develop new ideas and to discover their world through play. This diversity supports not only cognitive and social development but also enables the children to unfold their own interests and talents.

Additional functional rooms in the house

• Explorer Island: This room provides a calm and protected space for individual support. Here we actively support children in their language development and offer space for therapeutic services.
• Color Sea: Here the children have access to a variety of materials and tools for painting, crafting, and designing. They have the opportunity to develop their creative abilities in a protected space.
• Power Source: The room offers the children the opportunity to let off steam, train their motor skills, and try out new forms of movement.

Outdoor Facilities

Our kindergarten features a spacious, nature-oriented garden with numerous old trees that provide pleasant shade on warm days. A variety of play options, such as sandboxes, climbing elements, swings, and a area for riding vehicles, invite children to move and explore. A mud station and several play areas promote sensory experiences and creative outdoor play. For the youngest, there is also a separate, sheltered crèche garden available.

Daily Schedule

Daily Schedule:
Free Play: Play is the most important form of learning for the child. For children, free playtime is the opportunity to implement their own ideas, satisfy their natural needs to move, explore, and experiment, and try themselves out in everyday situations while experiencing autonomy. They have the chance to practice interacting with other children, make connections, and develop a sense of community.

Snack – Shared / Continuous Breakfast: Depending on the group situation, breakfast in the morning is either taken during free play once the children decide to do so themselves, or together at a fixed time in the Bistro.

Targeted Educational Offer: Holistic support in all BEP educational areas. Here, all competencies and developmental domains of the children are addressed. Daily circle time provides orientation and security in everyday life. Through repetition and rituals, routines are internalized and foster a sense of group belonging.

Outdoor Time: We place great emphasis on movement and fresh air every day. Each day the children spend time in the garden or on walks in the surroundings.

Lunch: In a familiar and family-like atmosphere, the afternoon children can have their lunch in our Bistro. We ensure varied, nutrient-rich meals and take into account the guidelines of the DGE (German Nutrition Society).

Recharging: Rest periods are just as important for children as play and movement. During the midday rest, children can relax, recharge, and come to rest.

Food

Eating in our Facility:

Lunch at our facility is provided by Apetito and is prepared fresh daily in-house. The meal consists of several courses: an appetizer of fresh vegetables, a varied main course, and a dessert, which is usually fresh fruit. Food is eaten together in our cozy Bistro.  During meals, the children are accompanied by their group teachers, who support them during eating and ensure a pleasant, family-like atmosphere.