Introduction/specifics

We understand the Kinderparadies as a holistic experience and living space. Within the organizational framework of the facility and in consideration of the duty of supervision, we see ourselves as restrained, observing, granting and committed companions and guides of the children. Attentiveness, empathy, authenticity, respectful interaction and a great appreciation for the child are the roots of our work. We advocate an open and flexible pedagogy that is oriented towards the development of the children and creates space for this. Our situational work focuses on the current interests and abilities of the children. Children are naturally curious and eager to learn. In our facility, there should be room for their own experiences, responsibilities, consequences, their own experiences and their own successes. The children's ideas are the basis for projects and offers. Children can and should actively participate in shaping their daily lives. It is very important to us to support the children in their independence and autonomy and to encourage this.

We care for 32 children in two groups:

The mouse group (group form IIc)

11 children aged one to three years.

The bear group (group form IIIc)

21 children aged three to six years.

The sponsorship of a parents' initiative and the associated cooperation between parents and pedagogical staff creates a personal atmosphere. The prerequisite for this is an open, appreciative and attentive interaction with each other.

Our facility should be a place where adults and children feel comfortable and can identify with.

Rooms

Children's paradise has spacious premises and a small garden. The interior space is distributed over two floors.

The bear group is located on the lower floor with a large group room, a smaller adjoining room, a play hallway, and wash and toilet rooms.

On the lower floor there is also a large gymroom with an adjoining equipment room and a well-equipped work corner.

The mice group is located on the first floor. It consists of a large group room, a bedroom, an adjoining room as well as washrooms and toilets.

On the first floor there is also the kitchen with a pantry, the staff room and the office.

Outdoor Facilities

The outdoor area is accessible from both groups. There is a large sandy area, a smaller lawn, a climbing house with slide and several beds with vegetables and fruit plants.

Daily Schedule

A fixed framework, continuity and regularity provide the children with security and support. Only a child who feels comfortable and secure can perceive new impulses from the environment, react to them and learn. A well-structured daily routine, a meaningful alternation of activity and rest, helps the child to find its rhythm. Young children in particular need this framework to be able to deal with new situations and experiences.

Daily routine:

7:30 - 9:00             bring time

9:00 - 10:00           breakfast together in the mice group

8:00 - 10:00           breakfast time in the bear group

8:00 - 12:30           free play, group rounds, project work, walks, singing circles,

                              forest-meadow days, wheel days

12:00 - 13:00         lunch in the mice group

12:30 - 13:15         lunch in the bear gurppe

13:15 - 14:00         reading time (inter-group)

13:00 - 14:30         midday nap

14:30 - 15:15         snack

14:00 - 16:30         free play inside and outside. Pick-up time

Food

From Mondays to Thursdays, a varied breakfast buffet is available for the children in the Bear Group. There is a choice of different types of bread, cheese, sausage and vegetarian/vegan spreads as well as cereals, cornflakes and fruit. On Fridays, a joint breakfast is held in the bear group. In the mice group, the children eat breakfast together every day and have the same selection of foods.

Water is available as a drink for all children throughout the day.

The midday meal is prepared fresh daily by a cook. When planning the meals, attention is paid to balance and wholesomeness. Most of the meals are vegetarian. The meat used for the meals is purchased from a local organic butcher.

Allergies and food intolerances are of course taken into account.

From 14:30 - 15:15 there will be a snack for the children. Fruit, sandwiches and finger food will be offered.

Description and Stations

The Kinderparadies e. V. facility is located in the old town center of the Poll district of Cologne. This district is characterized by many small streets, stores, closely built houses and proximity to an elementary school and the Rhine.

Rail connection:

• Streetcar line 7, stop „Salmstraße“,
• then Salmstraße to Poller Hauptstraße,
• follow the road on the right for about 250 meters to the entrance Müllergasse,
• on the right side.

Basics

For us, cooperation in a spirit of partnership between employees and parents is the basis for successful educational work; it involves "working together and for each other".

Once a year, there are binding parent meetings with the specialists, in which the content of the child's developmental progress is discussed. These are documented in writing.

There are different forms of parent participation and parent co-determination (please also visit our homepage):

• participation of parents in various bodies, for example the board of directors, parents' council, booster club
• several times a year, the Kindergarten Council meets with representatives from the Board of Directors, the Parents' Council, the management and the team, for example to exchange on basic educational work, reports from the groups, planning and organization of theme-parent evenings, dates, festivals, projects
• annual general meetings led by the board and parents' evenings at group level, thematic parents' evenings, "get-to-know-you party" for new parents, "fathers' tents", summer festival, flea markets, regular regulars' table, design of and participation in the house newspaper.

Employee

The team is made up of dedicated, highly qualified pedagogical professionals working full and part time.

Our cooperation is characterized by openness, mutual appreciation and shared responsibility for the daycare center.

A cook provides us with balanced and freshly cooked meals every day. Two cleaners take care of clean floors.

Pupils from the different school branches as well as students from technical schools and universities have the opportunity to complete an internship in our facility.

Additional Offerings

• forest days 
• movement building site
• vehicle day outside with bringing bikes, scooters and so on
• body awareness and sensory perception projects 
• baking and cooking
• environmental education
• natural science and research
• visit the library
• theater visits
• garden maintenance
• Saint Martin parade
• carnival parade in the district
• offers for preschool children
• final trip of the preschool children
• visits of the preschool children to the neighboring elementary school

Please look you can also read about this in our overall concept on our website.

Quality Assurance

• regular participation in the conferences of the Paritätisch by the board and management.
• regular training and continuing education of employees.
• supervision offers for the team.
• two conception days per year for the pedagogical staff.
• regular review of the concept by the team and the board.
• opinion survey of parents at regular intervals.

Cooperations

Regular participation of the management in the Poller network meeting of kindergartens and schools as well as the working group of the Paritätischer Verband (Parity Association).

If necessary, we cooperate with other kindergartens located in our vicinity.

We are in contact with the children's center Miteinander leben e. V.

Teamwork with school

Regular contacts with the Gemeinschaftsgrundschule and especially with the GGS Poller Hauptstraße. There are observation days at both schools before the start of school.

Pupils of the GGS Poller Hauptstraße regularly take over the reading aloud in our reading groups.

Teamwork with parents

As a parent initiative, parental cooperation is absolutely necessary.

We have various committees and numerous opportunities for collaboration and participation.

Projects

• aid projects 
• fundraising
• dance projects with children
• circus project with children
• participation of the day care center in the annual carnival parade in the district

Parental Interviews

A survey of opinion on the part of the board of directors to the parents, for example, on satisfaction, cooperation with the pedagogical team and so on, is carried out at regular intervals.

Overview

• active participation in the association.
• residence in Poll district.
• personal introduction in the facility.
• the admission takes place according to age.

All families who have registered with us through Little Bird automatically receive an invitation to an information session in October, which is always for interested families who would like a place with us in the coming year.