When Siri speaks about her vision for childcare, one thing immediately stands out: she refuses to see inclusion as an "extra" or a mere protocol. For her, it is the core of everything Partou does. "To me, inclusion is a mindset," she begins firmly. "It means that all children, regardless of cultural background, gender, disability, or social status, unconditionally belong to our community from day one."
Participation instead of presence
In her work, Siri makes a sharp distinction between simply 'being there' and truly 'taking part.' She prefers to speak in terms of participation and contribution. "A child shouldn't just be physically present; they must be able to actively shape their environment and share their own perspectives," she explains.
According to her, this is where the real shift occurs: from integration to inclusion. "Where integration often asks the child to adapt to the existing structure, we try to flip the roles: we work hard to design our structures so that they naturally provide space for diversity. Inclusion means that diversity is the standard, not the exception."
Rising expectations
"The world around us is changing rapidly, and we see that directly within our groups. Social diversity is growing; families bring a wealth of languages, religions, and migration backgrounds with them. This requires pedagogical staff with strong intercultural and anti-discriminatory competencies. At the same time, we see rising expectations surrounding inclusive care. There is increased attention on neurodivergence, language barriers, and mental health."
The major challenge, however, is the tension between these ambitions and the reality on the ground. "There is a dire shortage of qualified personnel. For inclusion to succeed, teams need structural support and practical guidance in their daily routines. We are noticing that the quality of the relationship between the educator and the child is, now more than ever, the deciding factor."
Complexity
What makes Siri’s work extra complex are the vast differences between the German federal states. "Support conditions vary significantly by state, which we clearly see at our locations in Hamburg and North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW). In Hamburg, we work with the 'Integrative Kita.' This is a strictly defined model requiring specific licenses and specialized Heilpädagogen (specialized pedagogical staff). The advantage is the close cooperation with therapists who often visit the location, providing stability for the family. The downside is that due to the shortage of these specialists, it is currently very difficult to create new inclusive places."
In NRW, the system is more flexible, lowering the threshold for inclusion but increasing the pressure on pedagogical staff. "There, teams often have to manage it themselves, which only increases the need for high-quality coaching and further training."
The way forward
Despite the challenges, Siri remains optimistic and determined. "Realizing an inclusive environment is a challenge. It requires the continuous removal of physical and social barriers, even when political or financial frameworks clash with our professional ambitions. We don't let that discourage us; we always look for creative solutions. These are challenges that we address together as a team within our early childhood settings in our daily practice."
The key lies in strong organizational support: "We invest heavily in the professional development of our teams, supported by our Operations and Pedagogy & Quality departments. In doing so, we always consider the context of the entire family. Development plans are created together with the parents, ensuring that everyone—the child, the parents, and our employees—feels heard and empowered."
"Ultimately, it's about more than protocols or state regulations," Siri concludes resolutely. "It’s about the courage to look at every child and say: 'You belong here, exactly as you are.' Because inclusion only truly succeeds when we stop seeing it as an extra task and simply start breathing it in everything we do."
For a resilient society
Impact is often found in the smallest moments. Each of those moments may seem small, but together they make a world of difference. For children, parents, colleagues, and the society of tomorrow. In our annual report, you’ll read how we work every day to create a warm and safe place for every child.