OUR
PHILOSOPHY
KOMPASS Nursery philosophy is mainly based on the theories of Emmi Pikler, with few carefully selected age-appropriate elements of Maria Montessori and Reggio Emilia traditions.
IMAGE OF THE CHILD
We believe that all children are competent and confident learners from birth and naturally inquisitive. Children learn through play which is initiated by children themselves.
In addition, children have control over their direction of learning. We see them as individuals who need to be listened to carefully.
DAY AT THE
NURSERY
We believe that all children are competent and confident learners from birth and naturally inquisitive.
Children learn through play which is initiated by children themselves. In addition, children have control over their direction of learning. We see them as individuals who need to be listened to carefully.
THE
ENVIRONMENT
We have a prepared free flow environment where children have access to age appropriate stimulations. Each area has been designed to cover all aspects of learning.
Both indoor and outdoor environments have been created to offer children opportunities for physical activities, movement and independence, imagination, creativity and sense of wonder.
The careful choice and display of materials invites children to investigate, discover and experiment. Nature is given a significant value as it offers opportunities for real experiences, a wide variety of sensory experiences, and gives the children freedom of exploration.
THE
ENVIRONMENT
We have a prepared free flow environment where children have access to age appropriate stimulations. Each area has been designed to cover all aspects of learning.
Both indoor and outdoor environments have been created to offer children opportunities for physical activities, movement and independence, imagination, creativity and sense of wonder.
The careful choice and display of materials invites children to investigate, discover and experiment. Nature is given a significant value as it offers opportunities for real experiences, a wide variety of sensory experiences, and gives the children freedom of exploration.
OBSERVATION
& DOCUMENTATION
Teachers observe children to spot and document the children’s interests. We check the developmental milestones for each child on a regular basis.
Our milestones are based on Richard Michaelis and Gerhard W. Niemann and revised by Infans.
Each teacher writes a portfolio for their settling-in children, which includes photographs of the children engaged in activities each month as well as written observations about the child’s development wellbeing, learning stories of the month, preferred interests, friends and language development in all three
languages.
TEACHER’S ROLE
The teacher’s role is to support the child’s active role in its own learning process. Teachers are role models who also observe the children carefully and plan activities according to the child’s interests and to support the child’s development in motor skills and language.
EARLY
INDEPENDENCE
Children feel more confident and are able to develop better when their need for independence is supported by adults and the surrounding environment.
At KOMPASS Nursery, children practice independence in various activities such as helping to set up Circle Time, helping to tidy up materials before meals start, feeding themselves during meals, climbing up stairs to reach the changing table rather than being lifted by a teacher, and putting on and taking off their own shoes.
Children are encouraged to move around the Nursery on their own: they walk, run, crawl and jump around the Nursery and teachers refrain from carrying children who can move independently. Early independence is actively fostered through the prepared environment and teachers just over help when the children need support.
EARLY
INDEPENDENCE
Children feel more confident and are able to develop better when their need for independence is supported by adults and the surrounding environment.
At KOMPASS Nursery, children practice independence in various activities such as helping to set up Circle Time, helping to tidy up materials before meals start, feeding themselves during meals, climbing up stairs to reach the changing table rather than being lifted by a teacher, and putting on and taking off their own shoes.
Children are encouraged to move around the Nursery on their own: they walk, run, crawl and jump around the Nursery and teachers refrain from carrying children who can move independently. Early independence is actively fostered through the prepared environment and teachers just over help when the children need support.
LANGUAGE
Children start to understand and respond to language way before they can produce all of the sounds to make a word. That is why at KOMPASS we always talk with the children in all situation and whenever we interact. We go down to eye level with the child, and we engage in conversation, even if the child can only nod or shake her head in return.
Teachers always explain to the child what will happen next, for example, if a teacher will change a child’s diaper or wipe a child’s nose. In our trilingual immersion setup the children find it soon normal to be surrounded by teachers who each consequently speak one of the three KOMPASS languages – German, English and Arabic.
CIRCLES
Circle time is a daily ritual at the nursery and it is a socializing experience for the children. The children are split into two groups and meet in the same group each day, where they learn the names of the other children in the Circle, hear and learn songs in the three languages, and experiment with rhythm and musical instruments. The music Circle in the morning is a time for the children
to experience the feeling of togetherness in a group with the others.
The parachute Circle at the end of the day is an ending ritual to the day. It indicates to the children that the day is over. The children get a chance during the parachute Circle to choose the songs that they want to sing and the songs might vary from day to day – this gives the children a chance to participate, whereasduring the morning Circle the teachers choose the songs and the songs remain the same throughout the week.
MEALS
At KOMPASS we over healthy and nutritious meals including breakfast, lunch and an afternoon snack, all including fruits and/or vegetables/salad. All meals are prepared on our premises by our stay and under close supervision by the KOMPASS management.
We believe that healthy eating and good table manners are important in the development of young children. We recognize that children should be able to enjoy food as well as learn good behavior while eating. Eating habits developed during childhood have the potential to last a lifetime, which is why we emphasize nutrition education. We provide overall knowledge about healthy eating habits and nutrition principles.
MEALS
At KOMPASS we over healthy and nutritious meals including breakfast, lunch and an afternoon snack, all including fruits and/or vegetables/salad. All meals are prepared on our premises by our stay and under close supervision by the
KOMPASS management.
We believe that healthy eating and good table manners are important in the development of young children. We recognize that children should be able to enjoy food as well as learn good behavior while eating. Eating habits developed during childhood have the potential to last a lifetime, which is why we emphasize nutrition education. We provide overall knowledge about healthy eating habits and nutrition principles.