Introduction/specifics

The Buntspechte forest kindergarten is orientated towards ‘nature and forest pedagogy’ and offers the children a particularly natural educational space for their own development.
Through a holistic elementary education, which can be realised very well in nature, the child learns the necessary skills to shape its life responsibly. The children spend the whole day moving around in nature on various levels and surfaces with different textures (moss, stones, roots, etc.). Movement takes place here in a natural environment through logical stimuli.

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Outdoor Facilities

The Buntspechte forest kindergarten is located in Pöttmes in the district of Handzell. The forest kindergarten has a large meadow, an adjoining wooded area and a parking area for the vehicles of parents and staff, as well as an office container of approx. 30 square metres, which serves as a shelter and storage room. The container can be heated with a wood-burning stove if required. If the weather suddenly takes a turn for the worse, the container provides shelter for the group. If there is a risk of severe weather (thunderstorms, storms, etc.) or if there is a risk of crown breakage due to heavy snow loads, there is no supervision in the forest and a suitable alternative space is sought.

Other play areas in the meadow include the ‘mud kitchen’, the ‘building house’ and the ‘balancing snake’, which are mainly used during off-peak times. During core time, the group mainly spends time in the forest. The flower spiral in the meadow at the edge of the forest offers a place for quiet exercises and meditation. 

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Daily Schedule

Im Waldkindergarten Buntspechte kommen die Kinder morgens zwischen 7.30 Uhr und 8.30 Uhr, dem Wetter entsprechend angezogen zum Waldhaus (Container der Waldgruppe). Jedes Kind wird persönlich begrüßt. Während der Bringzeit haben die Kinder die Möglichkeit erst einmal in Ruhe anzukommen. Am Containerplatz gibt es verschiedene Spielmaterialien, Mal- und Bastelangebote und Bilderbücher. Jeder Waldtag beginnt mit dem „Morgenkreis“, an dem sich alle Kinder und das päd. Personal in einem Kreis treffen. Hier ist Raum für erste Naturerfahrungen, Fragen und Erzählungen der Kinder, es wird gesungen und gespielt und es finden hier bereits gezielte Angebote statt.
Gemeinsam wird besprochen, was für diesen Tag geplant ist und welcher Ort/ Waldplatz aufgesucht wird. Gefrühstückt wird je nach Tagesablauf gemeinsam um ca. 10.00 Uhr entweder direkt am Waldhaus, in der Jurte oder unterwegs.
Vor dem Essen werden die Hände an einem Waschbecken, oder mit einer Flasche und Seife gewaschen. Nach dem Essen finden gezielte Angebote, sowie Freispiel an versch. Orten und Spielbereichen statt. Ab 12.15 beginnt die Abholzeit, die Kinder werden bis 13.30 Uhr zu ihrer individuell gebuchten Betreuungszeit abgeholt. 

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Food

Depending on the daily schedule, breakfast is eaten together at around 10.00 a.m. either directly at the Waldhaus, in the yurt or on the way. Each child brings their own snack and drink. In winter, the children are welcome to bring warm food with them to warm up. Lunch is not provided, but the children can eat something from their snack if they wish. 

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Employee

To look after the children, 1 to 2 specialised staff (nursery school teachers) and 2 to 3 supplementary staff (child carers) are employed to ensure increased supervision in the outdoor area as well as optimal care and support.

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Qualification

The pedagogical and organisational management of the facility is trained as a pedagogical specialist with additional qualifications for forest and nature kindergartens and a specialist in social and educational management.

Specially selected further training topics for individual educational staff help to bring together a wide range of specialist knowledge in the forest team. The structure and processes in the group are planned through regular exchanges in team meetings, knowledge is exchanged (multipliers) and case discussions take place. The entire staff regularly undergoes further training in nature and forest pedagogy, as well as other specialist training and courses. Joint annual in-house training courses on fixed topics, e.g. concept development, help to further develop the professional work.

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Quality Assurance

Everyday educational life in the Waldkindergarten should be characterised by an open, benevolent relationship between children, parents and childcare staff. Constructive criticism is necessary for a process of continuous development.
Parents are actively involved in the work of the forest kindergarten through forest and meadow discussions, detailed development discussions, as well as exchanges at parents' evenings and the joint organisation and celebration of festivals. At the beginning of the kindergarten year, two representatives are elected from the parent body in order to pass on the concerns of the parents to the staff and the organisation.

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Teamwork with school

Co-operation between educational institutions is anchored in state law and regulated in detail for kindergarten and primary school. Ideally, the transition from kindergarten to primary school or special school is organised through optimal coordination between the educational staff of the facility, the teachers of the primary/support school and the parents together with the children. The primary/support school should incorporate many elements of the kindergarten, especially in the initial phase or at the beginning of school.

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Overview

Children from the municipal area of Markt Pöttmes are accepted, a further requirement is an age of 3 years. It is desirable that the child has already completed the cleanliness training, but this is not a prerequisite. 

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Description and Stations

The Buntspechte forest kindergarten is located in Pöttmes in a wooded area in the district of Handzell. 

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