Introduction/specifics

Our kindergarten mittendrin is located in the middle of Pinderpark. Our focus is on the child with its unique personality, its needs, its emotionality and its need for protection. The benchmark for our pedagogical work in Montessori education is the child itself and its development.

Our aim is to offer the children entrusted to us a child-friendly, prepared environment that is appropriate to their age and needs.

We want to help our children to become independent, actively form social relationships and grow into society. The children are allowed to explore the world with an open, curious mind and learn with enthusiasm.

By adapting the organization of the day, it is possible to offer the child free spaces that encourage concentrated play.

We attach great importance to play and exercise in nature, a healthy diet and an appreciative and open attitude.

Keeping pets

Office dog "Malou", who the children love to greet

Rooms

Our kindergarten was built in a modern style and has three group rooms (sun, moon and star group) with large windows and work tables. The group room has its own kitchenette and cupboards with Montessori materials with different themes. The adjoining room offers painting and creative tables, as well as building and role-playing opportunities. The equipment in the rooms can vary depending on the children's interests. We focus on the interests and needs of the children. We change the toys regularly so that the children have a variety of options.

Each group has its own toilet and washing area and checkroom.

The children can use the corridor in small groups to look at books and play.

Two further rooms are available for small group work.

A large gym is equipped with climbing walls, gym mats and lots of small sports equipment (boxes, various balls, rings, hoops, cones, etc.).  

A room for development discussions with parents can be used in peace and quiet.

Weekly team meetings take place in the team meeting room. The children also pick up themed picture books from the library shelf.

The first floor can be reached barrier-free by stairs and an elevator.

The fresh kitchen for lunch is located in the extension to the crèche.

Outdoor Facilities

The kindergarten garden invites children to play, climb, swing and be creative. There is space to run and romp around. Trees and shrubs allow us to experience nature with all our senses on a daily basis and show us the different seasons. They also provide shade. In summer, playing with water is great fun for the children. Splash around with water in the mud corner or in the sandpit, use the spray hose and spray bottles with water for bathing fun.

Various play equipment and corners are available.

• Climbing tower with slide
• Sandpit
• Nest swing
• Floor trampoline
• Seesaw
• Wooden horse
• Play and mud corner
• Area for driving vehicles
• Willow tunnel

Daily Schedule

The daily routine offers children a framework for security and orientation. It is not rigid, but can vary according to need and the current situation.

07:00 - 09:00 Bring time for the children, free play time

07:00 - 10:15 a.m. Flexible breakfast, except on Wednesdays, when there is a joint breakfast

09:00 - 11:00 a.m. Morning circle with conversations, songs, poems, stories, finger plays, picture book readings, etc.

Free play time, activities in small groups, introduction of Montessori materials, role play in the puppet corner, building in the construction corner, playing in the garden or in the gym.

11:00 - 11:15 Children and teachers tidy up together.

11:15 - 12:00 Stay in the garden, go for walks, visit playgrounds.

12:00 - 13:00 Lunch together in the group room.

13:00 - 13:15 First pick-up time

13:15 - 14:00 The children meet in the chair circle with various activities, such as quiet exercises, relaxation, circle games, stories. This is followed by quiet games or activities at the table.

14:00 - 14:15 Second pick-up time (open pick-up time on Fridays from 14:15)

14:00 - 15:00 Free play time and afternoon snack (Monday to Thursday)

15:15 - 16:00 Open pick-up time, free play time and / or garden time

Food

Breakfast / snack

In our kindergarten, we attach great importance to talking to the children about healthy eating and exchanging knowledge about it.

Every Wednesday, the children prepare breakfast together in their group: fruit and raw vegetables are cut and placed on plates. Wholemeal bread is prepared with butter, cheese or jam. Or muesli made from yogurt, milk, different types of fruit and oatmeal. We bake together again and again. The children put their food together at the beautifully presented buffet.

On the other days of the week, the children can eat the "breakfast" they have brought from home between 7.00 am and around 10.15 am. This should consist of dark bread, savory toppings and fruit or raw vegetables. Please refrain from eating sweets such as milk slices, fruit dwarfs or squash.

In the afternoon from Monday to Thursday there is a small snack with fruit and vegetables.

Hot lunch prepared in our own kitchen

Lunch is freshly prepared every day. Our kitchen management and kitchen staff pay attention to quality, sustainability and, for the most part, regional organic products when purchasing. The menu is clearly displayed for all to see and is based on the German Nutrition Society (DGE).

"Cold food" option
Alternatively, children can also bring a cold lunch.

School fruit/school milk
We participate in the EU school program for fruit, vegetables and milk. We receive one portion of fruit, vegetables, milk and yoghurt per child per week during school hours.

Drinks
Sufficient drinks - such as water, tea, milk and juices - are available.

Basics

Basic principles

We work according to the Montessori pedagogy in a holistic educational approach and focus on the interests of the children. It is important to us to promote the children's social and emotional skills, to strengthen their individual personalities and to encourage them to express their opinions. In kindergarten, the children learn to take responsibility for each other, to help each other, to learn from each other, to respect each other and to build relationships. Their cognitive, motor and creative skills should also be developed. We aim to provide an inclusive environment where children with different needs can learn together and benefit from each other.

The Montessori materials on offer support

• Develop basic mathematical understanding
• Research and experimentation
• Develop environmental awareness
• Recognize health awareness
• To strengthen everyday skills
• To strengthen movement sequences
• To expand language skills
• To develop musical skills
• To promote artistic activities

The children learn to handle the appealing work materials with care and attention. The Montessori material is deliberately designed in such a way that it allows the child several activities and variations. A child achieves the best learning success by grasping and acting on their own.

Staff

In our team, we treat each other openly and cordially.
We make decisions together and implement them "hand in hand".

• Karin Kopp, social pedagogue, facility manager
• Dominic Lachmann, deputy manager
• Each group is staffed by educational specialists and supplementary staff, many of whom have a Montessori diploma or Montessori certificates
• remedial teacher
• Interns regularly support our work

The team is complemented by

• an administrative assistant
• a housekeeping assistant
• one cleaner
• a janitor

Suggestion and complaint management

Parents can express their wishes, suggestions or criticism in our facility through

• respectful discussions with the group leader, kindergarten leader and/or the provider if required

the parents' council

• an annual parent survey, which is carried out, evaluated and taken into account in our planning.
• Children express their wishes and suggestions in our facility throughout the day, as well as through discussions in the morning and lunchtime circle.

Cooperations

Support and advice centers

• Occupational therapist
• Mobile Social Pedagogical Assistance (MSH), Support Center (SVE) Oberasbach
• Educational, youth and family counseling center for the district of Fürth

Doctors

• Sponsoring dentist Dr. Croy
• Pediatricians and adolescent doctor

Authorities and institutions

• City of Zirndorf
• Youth welfare office, district of Fürth 
• Health department
• Police Department
• Fire department
• Office for Agriculture

Cooperation with elementary school

We organize the transition from kindergarten to elementary school.

Our cooperation schools are Primary School I and Primary School II. Cooperation meetings, school visits, taster lessons and a preliminary German course take place on a regular basis.

Cooperation with the crèche

We organize transitions between nursery and kindergarten

Educational partnership

We see ourselves as an institution that complements and supports the family. In the educational partnership, parents and educational staff have one thing in common: the well-being of the child is paramount! We attach great importance to working in partnership with parents in order to offer children the best opportunities for development and growth.

At kindergarten mittendrin, there are many opportunities to get to know each other and exchange ideas. The educational staff experience a lively, trusting and active cooperation with all parents as an enrichment and a necessary prerequisite for their daily work with the children. In this way, any problems that arise can be investigated for their causes and a sensible solution can be found.

An annually elected parents' council supports parents and educational staff. We plan many things together, such as activities for the kindergarten, parties and also discuss suggestions from parents.