Introduction/specifics

The future learns in kindergarten - I am me - you are you - learning to live together.

Experience community, experience security, live Christian values, encounter other religious communities with openness and tolerance at St. Josef Catholic Kindergarten.

Our kindergarten is part of a day-care centre network and is sponsored by St. Peter and Paul, Olching

St Josef's Kindergarten was built in 1970 in brick construction. In contrast to the usual site layout at the time, the kindergarten was not built directly next to the church and the parish centre, but approx. 800 m north of the S4 railway line as the crow flies. The site is around 5,000 m² in size.

The kindergarten building was completely renovated in 1995. The group character was retained. In summer 2012, new escape doors were installed in the entrance area and in the group rooms.

Our kindergarten is centrally located. The Puchheim railway station and shopping facilities are just a short walk away. Parks, meadows and fields are within walking distance and are ideal for walks.

Children and families of all denominations are welcome in our kindergarten. A pluralistic society can only succeed in a democracy. Only where dialogue between all opinions succeeds can life also succeed. Listening and speaking, giving and receiving - we want to practise these fundamentals and thus create a basis for a successful life.

Much of what children learn in our kindergarten they do not always carry home with them in their hands. Nevertheless, their rucksack is full of things they have experienced and learnt every day: Skills, qualities, values, life dreams that make them strong for the future.

Because: The future learns in kindergarten.

It is important to us to recognise the needs of the children and parents and to respond to them within the scope of our possibilities.

We work according to Christian values in our kindergarten. Every child is of equal value and is taken seriously as a person. We treat people of other faiths with openness and tolerance. Everyone is given space for their development and individuality. Our holistic education promotes body - soul - spirit. A wide range of activities awakens the children's curiosity and abilities. A special programme for pre-school children facilitates the transition to primary school.

We teach the children to treat nature with care and to treat it with respect and consideration. Every person and every animal is part of God's good creation.

We provide sufficient space for emotional learning, such as showing and recognising feelings, experiencing comfort and security, developing courage and confidence.

In their daily interactions, the children learn to treat each other with respect and tolerance. On the one hand, we respond spontaneously to the needs of the group and, on the other hand, we give them stability and security through rules and a recurring daily rhythm.

Our fixed groups promote community and group affiliation. Our fixed daily routines give the children stability and confidence so that they feel comfortable in our kindergarten.

Rooms

Our centre offers space for four group units that are ideally suited to the needs of the children. Each group has a spacious cloakroom, which can also be used as a free play area, giving the children plenty of space for creative play.

The group rooms are divided into different functional areas, including a building corner, a doll's corner, a cosy reading corner, a colouring table and play tables where the children can do puzzles or play games. This layout encourages individual development and group play.

We also have a light-flooded assembly hall, a gym and a multi-purpose room that can be used in a variety of ways. There is a kitchen for catering. An office and a staff room are available for the team to support organisational processes.
Our centre therefore offers an ideal environment for learning, playing and growing.

Outdoor Facilities

We have an almost natural garden with old trees, hedges, bushes, meadows, fruit trees and fruit bushes, in which the children can consciously experience the individual natural processes.

The almost natural garden not only invites the children to play, but also allows them to experience nature up close. In the outdoor area there is a small and two large sandpits, two large playhouses, two bird's nest swings, several spring rockers, a wooden seesaw and two wooden trains. We are also proud of our climbing facility with climbing wall, climbing net and three different horizontal bars. This was initiated by the parents' council. The funds for this were raised through years of voluntary work at events and festivities. A small hill invites children to play games in all seasons.

Daily Schedule

Our daily routine has fixed structures, the order of which we reserve ourselves.

The kindergarten day begins with a personal welcome for the child and a brief exchange with the parents.

During the drop-off time until 9.00 a.m., the children have the opportunity to choose the type of play, the place of play and their playmates according to their needs. Our core time begins at 9.00 am. The following activities take place from this time until 12.30 pm: Morning circle, specific activities, tidying up, snack time, free play (in the house and/or garden), activities for small groups. During free play time, there is also time for creative activities such as arts and crafts. This is followed by lunch and free play in the afternoon.

Food

Lunch

Four days a week, we are lucky enough to have our own cook who prepares fresh and healthy meals for us. She ensures that the meals are varied and balanced and attaches great importance to child-friendly nutrition. 

One day a week, we buy our lunch from a caterer who also makes sure that the food is healthy and balanced. We therefore offer the children a good mix of home-cooked and external meals.

Snack time

We practise communal snack time in our house. It is announced by an acoustic signal. The children finish their playtime, tidy up and gather together. This gives us an overview and brings calm.

After the children have been to the bathroom and have found their place at the table, we start with a song or prayer together and help them to prepare their snack.

The children practise table manners in a quiet atmosphere. In this way, they experience eating together as a positive experience. Once all the children have eaten, they are ready for the day's other activities.

Basics

The legal basis is the Bavarian Child Education and Childcare Act (BayKiBig) as well as the Bavarian Integration Act (BayIntG). There is also a written concept that is revised annually with the staff. Our educational concept is based on the Bavarian Education Plan. The concept can be viewed on our website.

We work on the basis of the Catholic faith with the inclusion of all other denominations in order to give the child a sense of security on the one hand and the opportunity to develop and unfold their personality on the other. We want a lively community in which we work together as partners for the benefit of all, especially the children.

Employee

The team is made up of experienced, state-recognised educators and child carers. We also have a cook, a caretaker and trainees. There is at least one educator and one child carer in each group. We are also supported by part-time staff who supplement the existing group teams and/or offer special programmes such as language development, preschool and religious education.

Quality Assurance

The provider ensures that all employees have a current extended certificate of good conduct and that employees regularly take part in further training.

In accordance with Section 8a SGB VIII, the employees at St. Josef Kindergarten are obliged to fulfil the protection mandate and, if necessary, to consult an experienced specialist in this regard when assessing the risk of danger.

As a matter of principle, every single employee must respect the dignity of the children entrusted to them and their right to self-determination. Behaviour towards the children is characterised by a high level of moral and ethical integrity.

The team works according to a pedagogical concept that is regularly revised. The joint discussion of current situations and areas of life strengthens the team's co-operation. The weekly team meetings provide a framework for expressing wishes, suggestions and ideas. Joint activities, such as the organisation of everyday kindergarten life, the annual theme, various festivals, etc. are planned and carried out together. Co-determination in the team also means that each team member can contribute to the day-to-day running of the kindergarten according to their own additional qualifications, strengths and preferences, for the benefit of all.

Cooperations

We work together with various institutions: the town of Puchheim, the parish of St. Josef, the primary schools in Puchheim, the Fürstenfeldbruck district office, the health authority, the youth welfare office, the local bookshop, the early intervention centre, counselling centres and therapists. They come to our house: Teachers from the primary school, staff from the health department, staff from the East Support Centre, specialist speakers, staff from the parish, dance teacher from the meet&dance dance school.

Teamwork with school

We maintain a special co-operation with the primary schools.

In Puchheim, the Grundschule am Gerner Platz and the Schule Süd are responsible for the time after kindergarten. We are in very good contact with both schools. We work closely with the school at Gerner Platz, as the majority of our pre-school children will attend this school.

At the beginning of the kindergarten year, preschool parents are invited to an information evening in co-operation with the school and kindergarten. Here, the expectations of the school and our preparation for the children are explained. We inform parents of the importance of cooperation as early as the admission documents when they start kindergarten (see the parents' declaration of consent to the professional dialogue between kindergarten and school).

Teamwork with parents

At the beginning of each kindergarten year, parents elect two parent representatives per group to the parents' council, which acts as a link between parents, the kindergarten team and the provider. The voluntary commitment of parents is necessary for a basis of trust. We welcome any help and support from parents on various occasions, such as at parties or on excursions. Co-operation with parents is important to us. We always have an open ear for parents' concerns, questions, suggestions and wishes.

Every community is enriched by give and take. We want parents and children, the team and the provider, to experience St Josef's Kindergarten as a place of well-being. We extend our hand to parents and children and are happy to accompany them on their journey through life.

Specifics

Der Kindergarten kann durch speziell ausgebildete Fachkräfte Fördermöglichkeiten in Bezug auf Sprache, Naturerfahrung und Religionspädagogik anbieten.

Der Kindergarten legt großen Wert auf ausgewogene, gesunde und kindgerechte Ernährung. Es wird 4x die Woche gekocht mit frischen Waren aus der Region. Zudem gibt es im Lauf des Kindergartenjahres Projekte über gesunde Ernährung und regionale Lebensmittel. Der gute Umgang mit der Natur und Bewahrung der Schöpfung ist uns als christlich geprägten Kindergarten sehr wichtig.

News

At the beginning of the kindergarten year, all families receive a letter to parents with the most important information about rules, dates and fixed closing times.

Current dates are displayed promptly in the groups and on a general information board.

All dates can also be viewed on our homepage.

Projects

Projects

We offer the following projects every year: Preschool education, language development, religious education. There are also projects for specific age groups depending on the theme or season. In addition, we are visited by external specialists who offer, for example, dancing in the house and other weekly or daily activities such as traffic education or making music with certain instruments.

Parental Interviews

Our satisfaction survey takes place once a year. All parents are allowed to take part. The results are announced in writing.

Overview

We warmly welcome every child and every family to our house.

As a rule, children between the ages of 3 and 6 can attend St. Josef Kindergarten. If there are still places available, children under the age of 3 can be admitted, but with a minimum age of 2.6 years.

Due to the financial support provided by the state, it is necessary for parents to live in the municipality of Puchheim. If places are still available, places may be allocated to children from other municipalities after consultation with the town of Puchheim.

Description and Stations

The day nursery is very centrally yet quietly located in the northern part of Puchheim, on the corner of Fichtenstrasse and Birkenstrasse. The S-Bahn is only a few minutes away.