We have developed our own vision of pedagogy which is inspired by different pedagogic streams.
Open
We communicate openly and honestly. Children are vulnerable and make clear in their own way what they want or need. The art is to communicate with them in a way that we understand them and they understand us. For example, if someone is to clean a baby’s diaper, she would first tell the baby and explain exactly what she is going to do. In this way we build trust, understanding and respectful one-on-one contact, and the baby feels safe, comfortable, seen and heard.
Discover yourself
We believe, in our pedagogy vision, it is essential to create an environment for children to discover their own needs and curiosity. This encourages their development. The children at Klein is Groot get as much scope as they need to do things and investigate how something works. What they are not able to do, we help them with. We help them learn how to do things themselves. We encourage them daily. So, children help to cut a banana and to set the table.
We observe and listen carefully. We have a curious attitude towards the children. And the children are offered all kinds of materials to play with, such as paper, glue, leaves, sand, paint and twigs. They have the space to discover. It is our experience that in this way they will use their imagination fully to play and learn.
Nature
Thus, fully experimenting and discovering. We find nature very important. We literally bring nature into our home in the form of leaves, beech nuts, bark, soil and so on. And we go outside as much as possible, in our big geen gardens, so that the children have contact with nature and fully breathe in the air. We also promote, with parental consent, and when the weather is good, that the children sleep outside on special beds.
Sufficient attention
We have deliberately chosen for smaller groups. This allows the carers to have more time and space to give the children individual attention.
There are always at least two carers for up to 14 toddlers, and at least two carers for up to 8 babies instead of two carers up to 16 toddlers and two carers up to 9 babies as the law permits. There’s always one extra carer – usually Marieke – to speak to parents, give tours and conduct introductory meetings and intakes. We provide a steady rhythm so that the children know where they stand.
Fixed daily schedule
At Klein is Groot, we believe in peace, purity and consistency. An important part of our pedagogy. With a fixed daily routine, the children know where they stand and what to expect. This creates trust and feeling safe.
