Two employees successfully complete their qualification and strengthen the team at the Römerkastell daycare center
The daycare centers in the district town of Groß-Gerau are receiving additional qualified support. Gordana Ebentheuer and Petra Schmitt have successfully completed extensive training to become additional pedagogical staff. After a total of 600 hours of instruction, both are now part of the team at the "Römerkastell" daycare center in the Auf Esch district. Mayor Jörg Rüddenklau presented the two employees with their certificates at a small ceremony.
With this training program, the city continues its efforts to recruit additional staff for childcare. Currently, around 25 additional pedagogical staff are employed in the 13 municipal daycare centers to support the educators in their daily work.
Career restart in childcare
For both graduates, the successful completion of their studies also means a career change. Petra Schmitt originally trained as a florist. However, the desire to work with children had been with her since her youth.
"I already had the desire to become a kindergarten teacher when I was 16. Now it has worked out," Schmitt says happily about her new career path.
Gordana Ebentheuer also comes from a different professional background. She previously worked in the restaurant industry. Since her son works as a childcare worker and she herself finds working with children particularly meaningful, she decided to apply for a position as an additional educational staff member.
Both women praised the support they received during their training. "We were very well looked after and supported," reported Ebentheuer. Petra Schmitt particularly emphasized the practical nature of the training.
600 teaching units with a high practical component
The professional development program is called "Pedagogically Fit" and is based on the Hessian curriculum for education and upbringing. It comprises basic and advanced modules that teach both theoretical foundations and practical skills.
The content includes, among other things, the basic pedagogical approach, legal frameworks, the design of relationships with children, and the support of settling-in processes.
Further key areas include the observation, support, and documentation of children's learning processes, as well as collaboration with parents. Reflection on one's own pedagogical practice is also part of the training.
The individual modules are designed by daycare center directors, educators, and alumni. Observation methods are tested in practice, and participants receive tasks that they can implement directly in their daily work between seminars.
Entry is possible even without pedagogical training
The qualification program offers people with different professional backgrounds the opportunity to work in childcare.
Requirements for joining as an additional staff member include a completed three-year vocational training, professional experience and an interest in working with children.
The mandatory basic modules are aimed at additional staff who have not yet acquired the relevant pedagogical qualifications. Other employees from daycare centers can also participate in the seminars.
This includes, for example, people doing a voluntary social year, FOS interns, student assistants, trainees and domestic staff.
The advanced modules enable both educational professionals and already qualified support staff to further deepen their knowledge.
The city is focusing on further qualifications
Mayor Jörg Rüddenklau congratulated the two graduates and expressed his hope that they would remain with the city administration in the long term.
“We provide training and are pleased when the employees stay with the city for a long time,” explained Rüddenklau.
Isabel Lopez-Ruiz, head of the department for daycare centers, also emphasizes the importance of the additional staff for the facilities.
“We continue to focus on qualifications for an absolutely meaningful activity,” says Lopez-Ruiz.
Around six more employees are expected to undergo the corresponding examination as early as the beginning of 2027.
Qualification program opens up new perspectives
Manuela Schäfer from the city of Groß-Gerau is responsible for managing the "Pedagogically fit" program.
She sees further training as an important opportunity to attract people without traditional pedagogical training to work in daycare centers.
“What I particularly like about Pädagogisch Fit is that people without a traditional pedagogical training path also get the chance to discover their enthusiasm for working with children and perhaps even find their way into their dream job,” explains Schäfer.
She considers it particularly important to convey the contents of the Hessian Education and Upbringing Plan in a practical way and to strengthen awareness of the diversity and responsibility of pedagogical work.
The most important information
What: Qualification “Pedagogically fit” for additional pedagogical staff
Where: Municipal daycare centers in Groß-Gerau
Graduates: Gordana Ebentheuer and Petra Schmitt
New placement location: "Römerkastell" daycare center in the Auf Esch district
Scope of the qualification: 600 teaching units
Requirements: Among other things, completed three-year vocational training, professional experience and interest in working with children
Further qualifications: Approximately six exams are planned for early 2027
Contact person: Manuela Schäfer, Department of Daycare Centers, City of Groß-Gerau
Email: manuela.schaefer@gross-gerau.de
(GROSS-GERAU – RED/PSGG)
Featured image:
Petra Schmitt (third from left) and Gordana Ebentheuer (second from right) from the "Römerkastell" daycare center have successfully completed their qualification as additional pedagogical staff. Sevgi Mala-Caliskan (Director of the Auf Esch daycare center), Manuela Schäfer (Head of the training program), Groß-Gerau Mayor Jörg Rüddenklau, Isabel Lopez-Ruiz (Head of the Department for Daycare Facilities), and Etienne Limberg (Deputy Director of the "Römerkastell" daycare center/from left) offered their congratulations. Photo: City of Groß-Gerau/Jörg Monzheimer
