Parent questions
The questions asked most on visit days, in one place.
School and enrolment
Is Yaban a school under the Ministry of National Education?
Yes. Yaban is a private kindergarten licensed by the Ministry of National Education (MEB) and accepts children aged 36–66 months. We follow the MEB Preschool Education Programme; the difference is that we deliver it spending half the day outdoors. The licence and other documents are on the About page.
How many children and teachers are in a group?
Each group has at most 14 children and 2 teachers. A teaching assistant joins the group during outdoor walks and workshops.
Does my child need to be toilet trained?
To start Meltem (age 3–4) it is enough to be close to dry during the day. Accidents happen; every child has a full set of spare clothes at school.
How does settling in work?
In the first week a parent can stay at school; we shorten the time together depending on the child. Most children settle in within two to three weeks. We make the settling-in plan with each family at the enrolment meeting.
A day outdoors
How cold is too cold? When do you go inside?
There is no bad weather, but there is dangerous weather. We are indoors or in the shelter during lightning, storm warnings, wind chill below −10 °C, air pollution alerts and midday hours above 30 °C. In any other weather we are outside with the right clothes; we shorten or extend the time depending on the weather.
Will my child always come home wet and muddy?
Muddy yes, wet mostly no. The rain suit and boots keep the wet out; before lunch everyone changes into dry clothes and wet things go to the drying room. In the evening wet clothes go home in a separate bag.
Do we have to buy equipment from the school?
No. In the full-day programme the school rain suit is provided in the first year; for everything else our packing list guides you. No brands are required; a wool or synthetic base layer and waterproof boots matter most. There is also a shared second-hand gear shelf at school.
Do children really use saws and knives?
Yes, in the Poyraz and Karayel groups, one-to-one with a teacher, in a set workshop area and with gloves. Each tool has a rule and a box; the rules are repeated at the start of every workshop. There are no real tools in Meltem; we start with hammers and wooden pegs.
Safety and health
What do you do about ticks?
From April to October we tuck long trousers into socks and recommend light-coloured clothing. We stay out of long grass at the edges of the path. At the end of the day teachers check clothing and exposed skin; we ask you to do a full-body check at home in the evening. If you find a tick, do not try to remove it yourself; go to the nearest health centre.
What happens if a child falls or gets hurt?
All our teachers hold paediatric first aid certificates; each group carries a first aid kit and a radio. Small scrapes are cleaned on the spot and reported to the family at the end of the day; in a more serious case we call 112 first and then the family. We renew our risk-benefit assessment every year and check the grounds every morning.
Can my child come to school when ill?
A child with fever, diarrhoea or vomiting stays home until 24 hours symptom-free. A child with a runny nose who is in good spirits can come. The school does not ask for health records; at final enrolment we only take the allergy and emergency information we need to know, with a separate privacy notice.
Will my child's photo be shared on the website or social media?
Only with your written consent. If you do not consent, no photo showing your child's face is shared; daily photos are sent only to families in a closed group. On our website you will mostly see hands, boots and moments photographed from behind.
Fees and transport
What do the fees include? VAT, meals, transport?
The annual fee includes VAT, breakfast, lunch and afternoon snack, all materials and, in the full-day programme, the school rain suit in the first year. Transport is not included; it is charged monthly by area. Fees do not exceed the amount declared to the Ministry.
What sibling discounts and payment options are there?
A 10% discount applies to the second sibling. Fees can be paid in advance or in 10 equal instalments; advance payment has a 6% discount. The deposit taken at enrolment is deducted from the annual fee.