Here at the Kinderschule Bremen, children are not just taught. They are welcomed. Since 1993, the Kinderschule Bremen has been a state model school. It focuses on elementary education.
The school’s guiding principle is unique. How must the school be designed so that everyone feels welcome? This welcoming culture permeates the school day. The Kinderschule Bremen embraces inclusion. One hundred children with and without special needs learn together in five groups.
These groups are named after colors. There is Orange, Red, Yellow, Blue and Green. Five-year-olds start in the Orange group. This helps them adjust to the Kinderschule Bremen’s open structure. They get plenty of time for early learning that suits their development.
The Yellow and Red groups combine first and second graders. They offer children freedom in their learning. During free study times, children choose their math and German tasks. They also decide the order. Besides free study, there are required tasks. Green and Blue groups are for third and fourth graders. They alternate weekly between math and German.
At the Kinderschule Bremen, every child can learn everything. Teachers and staff support the children during lessons. The principle is to support children as much as needed. But it’s important to support them as little as possible. This boosts independence. It helps children develop a healthy self-image.
The Kinderschule Bremen focuses on the joy of learning. It encourages discovery and creativity. Teachers organize all subjects, except math and German, into offerings. These happen daily. Examples include the Leseclub and Zeitforscher. There is also Stadterkundung, Fußball, Theater, and Film. Garten, Ackern und Rackern, and Graffiti are also offered. These provide garden experience. Different offers occur each day. Children choose what interests them most. One offer a week should involve movement. Younger children offer activities on Thursdays. Adults supervise these. Older groups have English lessons and swimming. Most offers mix age groups. Some are divided by age, gender, or needs.
Offers run from one holiday to the next. After holidays, children can sample different offers. Then, they pick one. This creates a fixed schedule until the next holiday. This variety lets children explore their interests and limits.
As a full-day school, Kinderschule Bremen provides care. This lasts from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Teachers and staff support children throughout the day. They are present from 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM. This eliminates splitting time between teaching and care. The Kinderschule Bremen hires its staff through its own association. This ensures the concept works well.
Teamwork is a cornerstone of the Kinderschule Bremen. Teams include teachers, therapists, and student teachers. They also include integration specialists. They teach all learning groups with two staff members present. Everyone cares for all students. Meetings occur three times a week. Children lead these meetings. Anyone can speak. This creates an open, respectful environment. The meetings allow everyone to share ideas. Students can voice suggestions or concerns. They can discuss important questions.
The Kinderschule Bremen includes parents. Parents actively shape school life. They take on responsibilities in different areas. Working groups focus on school development. They handle inclusion and gender issues. They also support the school’s organization. Parents cook for the whole school twice a year. The school community eats together daily. Each meal starts with a moment of silence. Children lead this silence. Often it’s the children whose parents are cooking.
Once a year, the whole school unites in the city game Heimbüttel. For a week, everyone learns about a chosen country. The Kinderschule Bremen transforms into a market. Here, children trade goods and services. They often showcase their or their parents’ home countries. This reflects the welcoming culture. Heimbüttel shows how other cultures enrich the school.