The central tasks of the Foundation Board are in the areas of personnel and organizational development, quality assurance and development as well as the development of the internal training and advisory services. The Board forms an interdisciplinary team from the fields of education, psychology and economics. It is involved in various working groups on specialist topics and quality development processes. The Board also advocates for the interests of early childhood education with the specialist authorities.

Preamble

As the non-profit foundation Stiftung Kindergärten Finkenau, we take care of children at kindergartens and schools. We see it as our task to positively contribute to and shape the start of life for all children entrusted to us. We stand up for the rights of children in our society. We take responsibility and get involved in social issues.

The board and its employees base their actions on the following principles:

We welcome all people. The foundation is unaffiliated with any religion, is politically independent, and we abide to free and democratic basic order. We demand compliance with democratic principles in society and our facilities.

We are aligned with current pedagogical as well as scientific and social developments. We are committed to sustainable development and take it into account in our practical work. We accompany and support the children, staff and families in their individual development.

The 6 key points of the mission statement with explanations

• We are a founder organisation and stand out through:
  • flat hierarchies
  • sound practical knowledge and an ongoing discourse on quality
  • availability and regular exchange, also on personal issues
  • a broad network and cooperation with like-minded partners

• We act according to the principle of prevention and adopt an attitude that prevents problems from arising.
  • In our everyday work, the child’s welfare has highest priority
  • We look after parenting skills according to the best interests of the child and offer free counselling for families
  • We train our staff in the field of sexual education
  • We are able to counteract difficult developments at an early stage through continuous observation and documentation that focuses on the strengths of the children
  • We create a climate of mutual trust and of openness and promote cooperation with parents
  • A subject running through all facilities is “Education for sustainable development”
  • We create an awareness for healthy nutrition and ensure sufficient exercise is taken in everyday life
  • We support our staff with information, offers and activities related to the subject of health protection

• We cultivate children’s and employees’ exertion of influence on decisions, plans and developments and support these in this process.
  • We maintain regular dialogue among all stakeholders and ensure that children and staff are part of decision-making committees
  • Participation and organisation/planning are enabled in an age-appropriate manner and with direct reference to everyday life

• We offer development support and inherently treat each other with respect
  • For children:
    • On the basis of observation and documentation, the development as a whole is discussed with the parents and educational staff
    • We take into account the individuality of every child
    • Trust, empathy and a spirit of community are important to us
    • The emphasis on psychomotricity promotes independence and self-confidence
  • For staff:
    • We create a climate of trust, respect and loyalty among our staff
    • We promote and respect diversity in our teams
    • We facilitate professional and personal development through training, education and counselling opportunities
    • We practice error tolerance and create a culture of giving feedback

• We follow the principle of inclusion
  • We appreciate the diversity and difference of children and staff
  • We create a suitable environment for children and staff

• The rooms in our facilities are designed to be child-friendly
  • Lots of movement is made possible in the indoor and outdoor areas
  • The rooms are multifunctional and can be used flexibly
  • The design of the facilities is geared towards children becoming proactive

Epilogue

This mission statement has been drawn up in close cooperation between the board with its staff and the facilities in a participative process lasting several months. The active contribution of the people affected by the principles formulated here is an important concern on part of the foundation’s board. The mission statement is intended to serve as a guideline for the actions of all people within the bodies and facilities of the foundation. We consider it a growing, organic and changeable document. It will be reviewed at regular intervals by the foundation with regard to its validity and topicality.

The dialogue-based formation of the mission statement was perceived as a valuable, instructive, profitable process. The foundation’s board thanks all those involved for their dedication and contribution.