Preschools, playschools, playgroups, kindergartens

For an over view see the guide page: English-speaking preschools in Munich

I think there are another three preschools I can think of.

Rainbow Preschool - 08142 506485

English Montessori Preschool - Perhamerstr. 49 in Laim, 089 546 08 55

I also know of one called Chocolate Butterflies and they sounded clued up over the phone ...but I've lost the details.

Hope this helps!

I know two...

One is the Rainbow Preschool in Joseph Retzer Strasse in Pasing. I dont know the phone number of the first one but Im sure you can find it in the phone book.

The other is Munich International School, but it is in Starnberg:

Schloß Buchhof, 82319 Starnberg
Tel: +49 (0) 8151 3660

Our children started Nursery- and Preschool in the north of Munich a few
months ago and they just love it!

If your child is between 10 months and 5 years I would recommend this lovely little privat school.

Regards
Liasmom

Nursery School in Eching

Tel. 08165/77100

I do a lot of babysitting here in Munich (so, if you need anybody :wink:) including for a couple of english speaking families with kids around Kindergarten age. Popular is the english speaking pre-school in Pullach, and I also found these addresses for you on the internet:

The International Montessori Pre-School
Asamstr 11
Tel: (089) 54 07 10 28
E-mail: intmontpreschool@web.de

English Montessori Preschool
Perhamerstrasse 49
Tel: (089) 546 08 55

Butterflies English-German Kindergarten e.V.
Gaissacher strasse 21
Tel: (089) 746 07 00
E-mail: MAFolz@aol.com

International English-Speaking PreSchool
Contact: Ingrid Hernandez
Tel: (08171) 91 07 94
E-mail: preschool@planet.interkom.de

I know that the families I babysit for also go to an english speaking toddler group which takes place at the people's houses once or twice a week in the afternoon. I could try and find out more details about that for you too if you'd like (I'm going to one of the families this afternoon), or even ask if I can give you their telephone number...

I have a 19 month old. We go to two playgroups one is called MunichMunchkins - email: munichmommies@hotmail.com

The other is called Stickyfingers, email at lara@stickyfingers-munich.com.

They are both good playgroups with children about the same age as my son.

When the weather starts getting better, I was thinking of taking my son to the zoo once a week or so. They have some nice playgrounds there. A year ticket is only 50 euro. If anyone would like to join me, you can send me an email. I live near Laim and Westpark, too. So if anyone lives near here with a baby the same age, maybe we can meet up at the park.

My name is Candice and I lead the Munich Munchkins group. We meet in Milbertshofen, which is to the north of the city, just off of the mitlerer ring. There is more information at MunichMommies.com

I can also recommend the International Women's Club. They have a Mothers Corner with baby groups, Tiny Tots group (for 1-2 yrs old), and lots of other activities for moms and kids.

English Montessori Preschool Perhamer Str. 49 80687 Munich Tel: (089) 546 0855 . Speak to Gordon, both of my children went here for 3 years and loved it. Melanie and Catherine are great teachers. Read more here.

English Montessory Preschool

The lerchennest in Lerchenau impressed me when I went to look at it for my oldest (but I didn't have a car then and it was just that much too far without one).

DDBug, thanks, I found their website at www.lerchennenst.de, looks very nice, much more informative than other sites I looked at. Unfortunately it seems to be in the north-west of the city (correct me if I'm wrong, not so firm on Munich geography yet ...), so getting there from the south-eastern outskirts during rush-hour might be a drag ... But, it's another possibility, thanks! Xpet.

My children both attend Rainbow Preschool in Pasing, an English speaking Kindergarten. I also run Sticky Fingers, and English-speaking play center that offers daily sessions for children aged 3 mths - 6 years. If you are interested in finding out more, then please visit the website http://www.stickyfingers-munich.com or pm me if you would like more information.
thanks Lara

Kinderhaus Laterne

There is a great place (highly recommended) in Balanstraße. Day care is called Kinderhaus Laterne. It is a private place but I think they are not overpriced and they offer a great programm in german, english and french. You can also apply for the substidy by the Jugendamt and then you pay less. My kid was 1.5 years old and he went to day care there and the normal price is 561 (I think) but we had to pay only 203 €. It is worth appliing even if you earn a lot because they always give you something (they are aware of the situation with kindergardens in Munich) The place has great working hours (7:30 - 18:00) and they also offer weekend slep-overs once a month.

* Bilingual education.
* Creative play and learning areas using stimulating and fun educational resources.
* For free trial day please contact Maria Zwick
* Tel. 089 - 680 93 102
* E-Mail: post@kinderhaus-laterne.de

I am looking for details of an English Speaking Montessori Pre School. Someone has told me that there is one out by Pullach, near Grundwald which is quite good, however surfing the net, I can't find it and I don't know the name of it.

Does anyone know the contact details / name of this school, or any other decent English Pre Schools in this area. I live in Ottobrunn so I am looking for something nearby.

Thanks for your help,

Tracy

Topics merged by admin

I would like to add: anybody know any English schools, just like there are Russian schools, Greek schools, Chinese schools? I dont mean Montessori, but after school programs.
My son is 6 years old and goes to regular German school, but I would like him to learn to read and write in English as well

I can second the Kinderhaus Laterne recommendation - our son has been going there since he was one year old, and we really like the place. I'm annoyed, though, that they didn't tell us about the Jugendamt reductions. Must be because we're German and they assume we know the ropes. Well, duh.

Anyway. It's a good daycare place, though I personally don't find the Kindergarten offer too brilliant. It's very expensive, and they also have very large groups. In case you live in Haidhausen, why not send your kid to the Städtische Kindertagesstätte St. Wolfgangsplatz 9? It's an excellent place for over-3-year-olds that has a truly dedicated staff - and they actually have vacancies right now.

Looking for a Nursery (kindergrippen) for my 18 month old boy...3 days a week

We live in Bogenhausen and so far have only found a place willing to take him 5 days per week or 5 mornings...

That might be tough to find. I've heard about such arrangements in the US or even in Switzerland, but here - well, you might find it easier to find a Tagesmutter who'd be willing to work for three days.

Thanks...do you know any plagroups in Bogenhausen or surrounding area...

I have some info from Munchen Mommies...

I have seen a lot of recommendations for Kinderhaus Laterne. I have been trying to make contact with them for a while now, but the phones goes unanswered as does my emails to them. I am an appointment to see Casa Luz in Schwabing soon. They apparently speak three languages to the children there: English, Spanish and German. It's not the cheepest; Euro 380 including lunch, but (as a single working mother) I find it good that they are opened from 7:30 until 5:30 in the event that i find myself in a bind and need to leave my son there for all that time at some point. I will give a feedback when I have seen it.

iscream, Kinderhaus Laterne changed their phone number some time last summer, and the number on the web page might still be the old one. I believe the new one is 68890291 (if that's the one you've got, try 11833 for directory enquiries...).

I should really be able to rattle off my son's daycare's number, shouldn't I? Rabenmutter.

Youkali, yes you should know your kid's kindergarten number! It does not matter however, because when you really need it, i guarantee you that you will not remember. I did know my son's kindergarten number, but the one time i received a message on my telephone to call urgently, the panic i went in, i could not think of it or even the name of the kindergarten for a long time.

Kinderhaus Laterne does have an advice on their website with their new number which I tried to call. Maybe my timing was just really bad so i will start trying again as of Monday when is when i think they will start again after the holdidays. Thanks.

Lotty,

I have a 19-month-old daughter and also live in Bogenhausen. We attend a playgroup on Tuesdays near Mariahilfplatz. If you would like to PM me, we could meet up sometime for play around Bogenhausen or to go to a playgroup together.

I know it's been mentioned before, but I would like to add something about Lerchennest in Lerchenau (just up the road from Olympiapark). My son goes there and absolutely loves it. It takes kids from the age of 2 (for either 2 or 3 days a week), thereafter they go for five days. It has a great set up, whereby the kids are in age related classes and therefore, get to do age related stuff. For more information look at the website: www.lerchennest.de Oh, and it's an Elterninitiativ so you get to get really involved too!! They are currently taking applications for this September if anyone's interested. Tel. 3543061

I also live in Bogenhausen, and I have a 2 year old son and 5 year old daughter (in kindergarten). If anyone wants to consider a tagesmutter sharing situation, I am all ears. I am always interested in getting together with others moms and little people as well. PM me if interested...

I don't think anyone has posted about this yet -- Kiku is going to be opening a brand-new English/German bilingual daycare (Kinderkrippe) + Kindergarden in Laim next month. I went to the parent's night this week and there are still spots for both daycare and preschool ages.

In my opinion, their philosophy and staff look very good -- of course its not running yet, so you can't observe the place in action, but they are going to have lots of space and are building a big playground in a garden right behind the building. Its also being operated together with the Kfb (doctor's organisation) as their company facility, so I think there's some security that they will provide quality care.

One drawback for me is that the bilingual aspect seems to be more geared towards teaching German children English than vice-versa. Also some of their English-speaking staff are not really native speakers, but from someplace else and very fluent, have lived in an English-speaking country etc. that's good -- a lot better than some of the Germans who want to teach English -- but not quite as good as an actual native speaker. Still, its more English than your kids are going to get almost anywhere else if you are looking for under the age of 2.

I have pretty much decided to place my daughter in the Krippe and I would LOVE to see a couple other native English speaking kids in the facility, so I wanted to try and drum up a little publicity here!

Thanks for the information I sent an e-mail this evening as I am looking for a kindergrippen for my 19 month old little boy ...3 days per week.

Zard

had a look at the Kiku website and they state they are still looking for a suitable location due to draw backs...do you know if they have found new location and where ??

thanks...

Due to moving house I've had to search for a new kindergarten place for my son (4) in Isarvorstadt or somewhere not to far out of the city. Thinking I would not get a non-private place until September I had a look at the private places. I went to Kinderhaus Laterne and was not impressed. For somewhere so expensive, it has rundown premises and a half-baked cirriculum (which includes older children being put to bed for 2 hours). I went there with high expectations and came away thinking I wouldn't send him there if was free (full time care with lunch is nearly 500E).

On the other side I spent Tuesday afternoon running like a lunatic from one kita to the next trying to enrol my son in the official office hours (4-6pm). Miracle of miracles. One (very nice) place around the corner from my work offered me a place starting March. They have lovely premises, English (or German if the kid needs it) lessons and early music education all for the standard government/church price (about 100E plus lunch). The Director lady was friendly, helpful and welcoming...So you see, it's not all bad.

I visited Laterne and although it is not a "new" facility, it was very clean when I visited and the staff was very friendly... The cost at the kindergarten is also that price because you have childcare from seven in the morning till six in the evening... with meals etc. You may also qualify for a subsidy which brings the price down to 100 euros...

@ Tara I am glad that you were able to find one near where you live... does it offer full day childcare?

Kiku is officially open next week and they have spaces for children available.. the location is over by Laim... the director is really nice and they are planning to have a garden planted this spring...

There is also a monetsorri over near Garching looking for an English Montessorri teacher... or a French teacher... if you have qualifications in either area, let me know... I will pass the infomation on..

I may have been a bit harsh regarding Laterne. The staff member I spoke to was friendly enough and the place was clean but I just felt it was rather run down (the entrance area is horrible) and not deserving of the fees (even if it does stay open one hour later than other places).

Regarding a subsidy. If both parents are working you have little chance of a subsidy unless you are in very low paying jobs or have lots of kids. (I phoned and asked).

The Kita I found is a church run one near Goetheplatz. It has full time care. I suppose, I was just in the right place at the right time.

Lotty,
I don't know why Kiku hasn't updated their website yet -- they are opening NEXT week in Laim -- Elsenheimerstr. 43. I am pretty sure there are still Kiga spots open, I don't know about the Krippe. If you want phone numbers for the GF or Director send me a PM and I will send them on.

oops--I see EUNomad already posted about this! Sorry for the repetition.

If anyone knows of an English Krippe in Haidhausen or the Altstadt/ Lehel which would potentially have a place for a 1 year old boy, I would love to hear more.
I have also heard that there is an English playgroup in Ottobrunn, but can't find any details. If anyone can let me know more, it'd be great.

Hi,

I attend the english speaking playgroup Rugrats in Ottobrunn, it is held on a Tuesday and Thursday 0930 - 1130 in the St. Albertus Magnus church, Albert-Schweitzer Strasse. The contact email address is rugratsmunich@hotmail.com.

You can PM me for further details or email or contact above.

Caroline

Hi,
Desperately looking for a Kinderkrippe or Tagesmutter in Grunwald area. If anyone has any suggestions/advice please let me know!
Many thanks
Sarah

I am not sure where you are living but there is a wonderul Kripa at the end of my street. Kidlerstrasse in Sendling. It is a new building and when I went in there to check it out, the staff was extremely friendly...

I teach kindergarten children and find the children overall are agressive here... so the problem you encountered will happen again and it is not an isolated instance. My daughter is very sensitive and I ended up taking jobs where I could be with her so that she did not have to deal with childcare and bully kids until this year... now she has to learn to deal with it because there will always be a bully in the class...

Good luck finding a space.

We've checked out Chocolate Butterflies in Sendling, and I must say that we were really impressed. The place is small, but they had done a lot with what was there, and the staff seemed really competent and friendly, also the English speakers are native, not just Germans good at English

However they don't take children that are under 3 or at least still in nappies, but we were told that our son could possibly start a few months before his 3 year birthday, provided he's potty trained by then.

We've also had a look at KIKU, and whilst it looked very good (lovely spacious surrounings) we have heard nothing back from them despite sending in the applictaion straight away (we were told there were definitely spaces available), and a friend had had all the paperwork through, only to receive a last minute email saying she couldn't have the agreed times anyway.
So I'm not too sure about the actual running of the place, also I doubt there would be that much English spoken, as it's more a case of international kids from everywhere rather than from English speaking countries. I asked about native English speaking kids, and they said about 3 in every group, so I wasn't that impressed. At Chocolate Butterflies 80% are bilingual (English/German, that is), so that sounded a lot better to me! Also they give preference to native English speakers, so it should be possible to get a place, or at least so they told me.

Ditte.

Ditte, at the end of kidlerstrasse in Sendling is a wonderful Kinderkrippe where your child could go until he/she turns three... but it is just German... Chocolate Butterflies is a wonderful school and the children are very nice...we play with them at the same playground.. one of the problems with Chocolate butterflies is that they don't have their own garden... so the kids use the local park.. but the school makes them wear these very bright markers so you can see them a mile away

KiKu just opened their doors two months ago so I imagine it will take awhile before they are running smoothly... The owner does speak English but he might be just a little overwhelmed by the amount of work it takes to start a new business...I tried contacting them by email and found it easier to talk to them on the phone. Kiku is kind of far from city center but they will have their own garden and they have a lot more room... which is a big advantage...

With the New German laws, you really want to make sure your child knows German fluently if they are going to attend German primary school... If you are not speaking German at home, you will need to make sure they are getting German at Kindergarten so that they have the appropriate fluency level.

EUNomad - what are the new German laws? I had heard that the schools now preferred the kids to be speaking German well before entering Grundschule, but I assumed that just meant they were cutting back on their Sprachlernklassen - are their actually laws about this?

They are not cutting back on Sprachlernklassen. The whole point of the whole "integration" debate is to encourage children to integrate into German society, mainly by speaking German at school. They always preferred that the children enter school speak German (as most countries hope that children entering the schools speak the national language). And they do (depending on the school) offer language support lessons.
I think what EUNomad was trying to point out was that it is important to send your child to a German kindergarden if you want to send them to a German school. This will help them speak enough German to get a long in school.
I personally don't see the point of sending a child to an English speaking kindergarden if English is spoken and nurtured at home, especially if they are going to go to German schools. However, every family is different. If english is only spoken by one parent at home or the family is moving back to the states within a year or so then I can certainly understand wanting to maintain the English with additional support of a kindergarden or daycare.

I run a playgroup in Putzbrunn called Munchkins. We have over 3's 2 mornings a week and under 3's sessions the other 3 mornings.
For further info please call me on 089 90777797.

Treehouse.

Finally coming your way in May!! (Located just down the street from the Munich Readery) We're accepting applications for children 18 months to 5 years old, just drop me a note or stop by the Friday English Playgroup in ELKI Schraudolphst. 10.

Lara Mosdal

The Treehouse will be a daycare and kindergarten providing childcare in both English and German. We are a nonprofit, parental initiative and energetic, engaged, multicultural families are the lifesblood of our organization.

The kindergarten will provide 12 children with a comprehensive, Montessori influenced, preschool program in both languages. An additional 14 spaces are offered to daycare children under 3 years old. Both programs focus on experiental learning as well as creative expression and plenty of fresh air and exercise in our garden.

In addition to our childcare offerings it is our ultimate goal to address the special needs of bicultural and non-German-speaking families in Munich. This may include seminars on raising bilingual children, German cultural classes for new-comers or evening courses in German as a second language.

Hello there English speaking people!

I am looking for a place to send my 14 month old son for a few days a week. Bi-lingual would be great but not a must. If anyone knows of any with a free place I would love to find out! I live in Glockenbach (is that how you spell it?) but am willing to travel.

Thanks.

Maybe here? http://www.kita-sparkling-diamonds.de/
It's near Poccistr., however it doesn't open till September.

My wife and I plan to be in Munich on a relocation research trip the week of 7/14 and would very much like to attend any meetups involving family folks. We have kids 9 and 12, who will not be with us on this trip.

/kim

Hi Liasmom

Could you tell me the details of this Nursery you mentioned above as the link doesnt work sadly.

Many thanks
Louise

Hi there
We are moving to Munich this summer and are looking at your neighborhood as a possibility as my husband will work in Unterfering (spl?). I have an almost 3 yr old (Sept )and 5 year old (in July) boy - so searching for schools - bilingual is the ideal but not sure if all German is something I can go for as we'll return to the UK after a few years - and I have NIL German at this stage! Interested to hear from you about housing and schools and other expats in the area?

Regards
Louise

My best advice to you is to put your child into a good German or bilingualkindergarten, they pick up the language so fast and it really helps them intergrate with other children rather than limit them just to english speaking children.
I came to Munich from the UK for only a year and ended up staying here for over 3 years and wil be returning back to the UK in July. I put my son in a English speaking Kindergarten, thinking German language was nt that important as I would be returning home, but the kindergarten turned out to be an awful experience for my son and both the parents, surprising, especially when he head teacher was from England herself. Anyway o cut a long story short I decided to try a good state german kindergarten, and myson loves it and h started to speak German in 3 months and now he is fluent after 9 months, he has many more friends and can communicate with other kids when he's at playgrounds, whereas before he was almost isolated because of the language barrier. And you as an adult pick up so much German from your child too which helps you too. And learning another language is invaluable for your child.

Hi there,

We're shortly going to be moving to Munich and I'm interested to find out about any organised playgroups, Mums & babies groups etc that exist. I already know about Sticky Fingers but just wanted to find out if there were other similar things going on.

Any advice gratefully received!

Thanks,
Lesley

Topics merged by admin

we will be moving to Munich in the next year Jan/Feb. My 3yr old is attending preschool in USA, i want to know what is the procedure to join him english preschools in munich. Are there any good english preschools near city center( if its far thats ok). Please advise. Thanks

Hi!
I would like to add our website, as we offer preschool/nursery for children 1-6, at Arabellapark:
www.internationalkindergarten.de

Please contact us, as we are opening now, and have a few places available!
Looking forward to hearing from Toytown families,
Lucia Kowoll