Daycare provider of the year is Sandra Kratz
For the first time, we have chosen the childminder of the year 2024. Applications were received from all over Germany and it was difficult to choose from so many dedicated childminders. In the end, Sandra Kratz won out thanks to her remarkable, loving work with children and her many years of political commitment to the professionalization of childcare.
The call came at a sweet moment
Sandra Kratz received the news by phone that she had won and was therefore our Childminder of the Year 2024 at a very special moment: she was in the middle of making cotton candy to mark the start of the vacations.
The joy about the award is great: Families from their daycare center also came to the personal award ceremony to celebrate and toast together.
Thank you for your great commitment and valuable collaboration. Congratulations, Sandra Kratz!
Great commitment to children, parents and child daycare
Mrs. Kratz has been working with the pme Familienservice since 2008 and runs a large daycare facility in Hennef (Sieg), near Bonn, together with her husband. Her care is characterized by the situational approach, but elements of Montessori and Pikler can also be found in her daily work. She tells us: "For me, the child is the focus of my work, with the aim of mastering their current and future life situation.
She has long been committed to the professionalization of child day care in political committees and association work. As a founding member of the Deutscher Tagespflegeverein e.V., she is committed to the concerns and interests of children, parents and childminders. She is also a member of the NRW network.
"We see ourselves as an extension of the family"
In their day-to-day work, Sandra Kratz and her husband attach particular importance to the individual interests and needs of the children. This includes observing the children and making situational decisions about what the child and the group need at any given time. If a special situation arises for the group or an individual child from their observations, this is taken as an opportunity to develop a small project with the children. For example, helping them to walk or learn to crawl. "It's important to us that every child can arrive here and start the day at their own pace," she tells us.
Joint decisions, compromises and consideration for one another are particularly important in their work. In this way, stable relationships and friendships can develop. At the same time, the children are encouraged in their independence and their social skills are strengthened.
"We see ourselves as an extension of the family," says Sandra Kratz. "This means that we are there for our families in both good and bad times." So it comes as no surprise to her that even after 16 years, she remains in close contact with some of her former daycare children.
You can find out more about our winner on the homepage of her daycare center "Mäusenest" (Link opens in a new window) .
About the "Child day carer of the year" competition
The pme Familienservice GmbH recognizes the commitment of childminders with the "Childminder of the Year" award. At the same time, it raises awareness of this demanding task.
Childminders can apply for the selection process with a text: In addition to a description of their child day care work, they should also describe the positive aspects that characterize their own individual work or the special conditions under which they have supported families.
The selection jury is made up of our specialist advisors from the field of child day care. The winner is awarded a prize and a certificate.
How does the pme Familienservice promote the quality of child day care?
Day care is an important pillar of childcare. At pme Familienservice , we have been campaigning for many years to make working in child day care a recognized profession and to create the same conditions for childminders as for educational professionals at childcare centers .
This includes performance-related pay as well as substitution arrangements during vacations and illness. Another goal is the state recognition of the profession of childminder.
We are a valued contact and cooperation partner among specialist advisors and childminder associations with our training courses specifically for childminders.
What service does the pme Familienservice offer for day carers?
Throughout the year, we offer our caregivers further training on all important topics and support them with a wide range of information and personal advice.
Are you a childminder and would like to be included in our placement pool? Register now free of charge and without obligation at www.betreuungs.services (Link opens in a new window)
You can also use our contact form (Link opens in a new window) for personal advice from the pme Familienservice consultants.
