Third gathering of advisory panels: 'Kitas as Professionals-in-Training'
Kindergarten LahnEggs Hosts Specialist Conference: Emphasizing Kindergartens as Training Centers for Early Childhood Educators
In March 2025, the Lahnstein municipal kindergarten, LahnEggs, played host to the third specialist conference of consultation kitas. The event, themed "Kita as a Training Facility," drew approximately 60 attendees, including representatives from consultation kitas and collaborating vocational schools. The gathering aimed to discuss the challenges and opportunities associated with training kindergarten teachers.
LahnEggs is one of 16 Rhineland-Palatinate consultation kitas focused on "Kita as a Training Facility." The initiative, which has received funding from the state since 2008, concentrates on incorporating pedagogical focal points within these select kindergartens. The chosen kindergartens receive annual funding for a period of three years and are tasked with sharing their focal work experiences with other kindergartens, carriers, parents, vocational schools, and interested parties.
Susanne Skoluda, a representative from the Ministry of Education, and Lennart Siefert, the Mayor of Lahnstein, officiated the opening of the conference. Both officials underscored the significance of early childhood education and the vital role that kindergartens play in fostering future professionals.
Participants were given the opportunity to observe the innovative work accomplished by Kita LahnEggs in the realm of training. Interviews with several trainees from Kita Waldpänz in Trier, the Montessori Children's House Sprosslinge, and Kita LahnEggs provided valuable insights into their experiences, preferences, achievements, and areas for improvement in their training.
Beyond the exchange of experiences, the conference facilitated the development of concrete strategies to enhance the training of kindergarten teachers. In several working groups, attendees brainstormed ideas to bolster the quality of training and tailor it to the needs of trainees.
The third specialist conference of consultation kitas concluded as a significant step forward in improving the training of early childhood educators. The collected ideas and suggestions will inform the further development of training structures, aiming to sustainably enhance the quality of kindergarten teacher training.
While specific details about the conference discussions are not currently available, it is worth noting recent trends in using kindergartens for the practical training of early childhood education professionals. These include hands-on experiences in kindergarten settings, technology integration, collaboration with higher education institutions, and a focus on diversity and inclusion. Additionally, mentorship programs, reflective practice, continuous professional development, and community engagement are common best practices in kindergarten teacher training. Strategies for implementation include curriculum design, regular evaluation, and incorporation of innovative pedagogical approaches.
- To optimize the training of kindergarten teachers, it's crucial to consider not only the hands-on experiences in kindergarten settings, but also the integration of technology, collaboration with higher education institutions, and a focus on diversity and inclusion—all key aspects of education-and-self-development that foster personal-growth and learning.
- The third specialist conference of consultation kitas perfectly exemplified the importance of nurturing personal-growth and learning through education-and-self-development, as demonstrated by the quest for innovative ideas to strengthen the quality of kindergarten teacher training—an essential component of early childhood education.
