Pedagogy & concept
Curious, brave, bilingual – that’s how pirates learn
We are a bilingual parent initiative in Leverkusen-Hitdorf. We care for children from their first birthday until the end of primary school – in a mixed-age group, in German and English, with lots of time outdoors.
Six things that make us who we are
Mixed ages
Little and big in one crew
Children from one to six years are cared for together in one mixed-age group. They stay in the same group from an early age and can form lasting friendships. The younger ones learn from the older ones by imitation, the older ones gain social skills and self-confidence by supporting the younger ones.
The long-standing relationship with the same educators creates a bond that goes far beyond a single daycare year. The school children have their own group – at celebrations, projects and outings everyone is together.
Bilingualism
English along the way
German and English-speaking educators work together according to the immersion principle: the children dive into the new language. Our native speakers speak only English with all children. Language grows from context – not from grammar lessons.
Experiencing nature
Every Friday out to the Rhine
Then we head outside – into the Rhine meadows and the woods. There, children observe, explore and grasp connections that no group room can explain. Nature education has a fixed place in our weekly rhythm, not just in summer.
Little researchers
Try, marvel, understand
We experiment every day. Our educators look at what the children do through a scientific lens: in small research groups, children try things out, observe, compare and record. Open questions from the accompanying educator lead the children to discover new things.
Art and creativity
The stage is yours
The State of North Rhine-Westphalia has awarded us as a daycare with a special cultural profile. Our aim is to give children space and materials for their own creative ideas – not to colour in templates.
From the age of three, children can do theatre; twice a year this leads to a production at the matchboxtheater, with whom we share our building.
Project work
What moves the children becomes a project
Projects pick up on what the children are currently interested in and connect it with what they want to learn. Research is done with books, encyclopaedias, newspapers, CDs, audiobooks, cameras and the internet – media education is part of it. Weekly activities are based on the project topic, and each project ends with an outing or a celebration.
Academic support
Our bilingual work does not stand alone – it is embedded in research and European cooperation.
University of Cologne
A team led by Prof. Dr. Andreas Rohde provides academic support for our work.
Research network
We are part of the research network of bilingual daycare centres.
EU project ELIAS
As one of seven European institutions, we were a partner in the ELIAS project.
Our image of the child
“As the agent of its own development, the child is an independent, active and self-educating being from birth.”
Every child has the right to be a child. Its individuality is at the centre, and it helps shape its own learning and development. Our educators support and accompany the child – they create a respectful environment and give orientation without dictating the path.
