KOMPAN

Free play for 10 years

On 9 January the KOMPAN Kindergarten The Four Seasons celebrated its tenth birthday.


A unique Danish nursery has celebrated its tenth birthday. The Kompan kindergarten, The Four Seasons, was ahead of its time in its methods when it opened. And even today, although Denmark is renowned for its very strong kindergartens, The Four Seasons is a very different kindergarten which every year receives visitors from around the world.


Carl-Henrik Jeppesen, managing director of KOMPAN, explains: ”The Four Seasons was established as an illustration of what a good child life outside the home looks like seen through the eyes of KOMPAN. KOMPAN believes in free play and respects children's right to play. In The Four Seasons children spend about 80% of their time outdoors all year round. They are always allowed to play, but can also participate in everyday chores with the adults. The  result is happy – and robust – children and adults. And this requires a very special kind of child care professional which we are happy to be able to recruit.”


The kindergarten manager, Kirsten Bjerre, says: ”The kindergarten sees far fewer days off sick than other institutions. And last year parents and staff in the nursery showed how satisfied they were through the Association of Local Authorities' satisfaction survey which showed that  The Four Seasons had 93% very satisfied parents and staff – this should be seen against a countrywide average of 46%. A large part of this satisfaction may well be because human needs take priority here. We work on the children's premisses. And it is a home and an institution and a place of work.”


”The Four Seasons have been noticed outside the Danish borders. Every year a large number of visitors arrive from all over the world. In 2005 we had a Japanese intern for two weeks,” explains the kindergarten's chair of governors, Jeanette Fich Jespersen from the KOMPAN Play Institute. ”What is very different about this nursery is the large degree of freedom given to the children indoors and out. There is confidence between children and adults, between parents and child care staff.”


On 9 January the nursery celebrated with a magic show and a giant birthday cake.