Barnepark Kindergarten A
Reference age
Barnepark Children's Home is located Chaussée de Haecht, 264, 1030 Brussels, close to Josaphat Park and a few steps from Saint-Servais Church, which overlooks Avenue Louis Bertrand. The building housing the children's home dates back to the 19th century. It was renovated in 2010 and brought up to the latest functional and safety standards, while retaining the original features of the house.
Our garden
Our kindergarten has a large garden of over 1,500 m2 . It's a sort of small park with games and facilities for children. In fine weather, children can play outside and have a snack in the garden.
Part of the garden is dedicated to the greenhouse and vegetable garden project. In this area, the children work with a specialist advisor to monitor the growth of plants and foodstuffs grown both in wooden tubs and in pots stored in greenhouses. Many fruit trees are monitored by the children as they grow. The children pick the ripe fruit themselves!
Functional services
All the nursery’s functional departments are located on the lower floor of the building. These spaces are home to:
- a bright, spacious kitchen
- the laundry room
- the nursing room and technical services premises
On the same level, there's a large reception area and an area dedicated to hygiene and staff changing rooms (changing rooms, toilets and showers).
On the first floor, a wide entrance hallway accommodates strollers and bicycles, and leads to the reception desk and the large teddy bear section, with direct access to the garden. The corridor continues to the paved courtyard and garden.
LITTLE SECTION
0/12 months
This section is equipped with safety tables and chairs for small children who cannot yet sit up unaided, to be used during meals administered by crèche staff. The smallest babies take their bottle in the arms of their childminder.
The corners of this section are equipped with mats that are neither too soft nor too hard for children to crawl on. Age-appropriate toys and equipment are available. An area equipped with a mat, a mirror and a support bar is used by children who are starting to stand up. To help the child fall asleep, the childminder holds him in her arms and puts him to sleep in his own bed. In the Poussins, children have access to cots with bars or low wooden beds.
MEDIUM SECTION
12/24 months
Here too, a changing table and bath for adults allow teachers to take care of the children's hygiene and change their clothes and nappies.
In this section, there are clearly defined areas reserved for children's activities and age-appropriate games.
LARGE SECTION
24/36 months
The hygiene area includes the children's toilet as well as a changing table and washbasin, installed at adult height, which are used by the educational staff for hygiene care and nappy changes for children who have not yet become independent.
Each child uses his or her own napkin and towel. Nursery assistants take particular care to teach children to take care of their own hygiene and personal care. Each child has a personalised container for their personal belongings and diapers. The section has a dedicated sleeping room. In this area, each child rests in their own personalised bed. Outside bedtime, this room is used for play activities.
PREGNANCY
36/48 months
The hygiene area accommodates the toilets for children who have achieved autonomy. For those who are not yet fully independent in their functions, however, the childminder intervenes to help them without mortifying the child but encouraging them. Each child uses its own napkin, towel and comb. Particular care is taken by the childminders to teach the child to take care of its own hygiene and personal hygiene. Each child is given a personalised container for his or her personal belongings and changes.
The section has a dedicated sleeping space. In this space, each child rests in his or her own individual cot. Children who no longer feel the need to rest are occupied with quiet games while the others sleep. Outside of bedtime, the area is used for play activities. Children in this age group rest for a shorter period than younger children and are woken up if they do not do so independently.
COMMON SERVICES
Outside each section there is a Reception area available to parents and children. This space is equipped with everything necessary for changing clothes and shoes. Here too... each child has its own dedicated and personalised space! The mezzanine houses the toilets for parents and guests.The second floor houses an administrative office of the company, a space for meetings with the paediatrician, one for meetings with parents and for staff training. The largest houses activities dedicated to specific projects for children: psychomotricity, musical, theatrical and creative workshops.