What Is a Kindergarten Inclusion Support Assistant?
A Kindergarten Inclusion Support Assistant (also called a KIS Assistant or inclusion aide) supports children with disabilities or additional needs in their daily kindergarten life. The goal is straightforward: every child should be able to take part in kindergarten activities on equal terms. [1]
Some children have physical, intellectual, or emotional challenges that make everyday situations more difficult. A KIS Assistant is there specifically for these children. They provide support throughout the day – during play, mealtimes, rest time, and transitions. [2]
If you are new to this role, the free Diingu course Grundlagen der Kita-Begleitung (Foundations of Kita Support) is a great place to start. It gives you a clear overview of the role and what it involves.
In Germany, this support is funded through the Eingliederungshilfe (disability inclusion support system) and is anchored in law. Families apply through the local youth welfare office or social services provider. [1]
The Core Responsibilities
The work of a kindergarten inclusion support assistant covers a wide range of tasks. These can be grouped into six main areas.
1. Supporting Daily Routines
This is the most visible part of the job. The assistant stays close to the child – but not too close. [3]
In practice, this means:
- Supporting the child during morning circle (the daily group greeting routine)
- Helping with eating, dressing, and using the toilet – as much as needed, as little as possible
- Guiding transitions: arriving at kindergarten, nap time, being picked up [4]
- Being present during outings and group activities
Key principle: The assistant never takes over tasks the child can manage independently. Building self-reliance (the ability to do things on one's own) is always the priority. [3]
2. Supporting Development and Participation
The role goes well beyond practical help. It also actively supports the child's development. [2]
This includes:
- Strengthening social development (how the child interacts with others)
- Supporting emotional development (recognising and expressing feelings)
- Using Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) tools – these include picture cards, communication boards, or apps that help children express themselves [1]
- Working in a strengths-based way – focusing on what the child can do, not just what they find difficult [2]
You can explore strengths-based approaches in the Diingu course Ressourcenorientiert arbeiten (Strengths-Based Practice).
Practical tip: Observe the child carefully. What do they enjoy? What comes naturally to them? These strengths are your most important tools.
3. Promoting Inclusion in the Group
A central goal of the role is inclusion (children with and without disabilities learning and living together). [1][2]
In everyday terms, this means:
- Supporting the child in making contact with other children
- Creating a safe and welcoming environment
- Removing barriers (obstacles that make participation harder) in the kindergarten setting [3]
- Keeping the child connected to the group – not isolated from it
Practical tip: Sometimes the best thing you can do is step back. Children learn most from each other. Your job is to create the right conditions – not to manage every interaction.
4. Working with the Kindergarten Team
A KIS Assistant never works alone. Close collaboration with educators (qualified early childhood professionals) is essential. [5]
This cooperation includes:
- Regular check-ins about the child's progress and needs
- Clarifying role boundaries (who is responsible for what)
- Participating in case discussions (team meetings focused on individual children)
- Aligning on support goals [4]
The Diingu course Kooperation mit dem Kita-Team (Working with the Kita Team) is especially useful for anyone starting in a new setting.
Practical tip: Clarify roles from day one. This prevents misunderstandings and builds trust within the team.
5. Working with Families and Networks
Supporting a child also means working with their family. [6]
This involves:
- Regular communication with parents or guardians
- Conducting professional conversations – including in difficult situations
- Connecting with other support services: early intervention centres (services that support children with developmental delays), therapists, and social services [1][3]
- Referring families to appropriate additional support
The Diingu course Elterngespräche professionell führen (Professional Parent Communication) helps you navigate these conversations with confidence.
Practical tip: Parents know their child best. Listen actively and take their observations seriously. This builds trust and makes collaboration much easier.
6. Documentation and Reporting
There is also an administrative side to the role. It may not be the most exciting part – but it matters. [4]
Documentation tasks include:
- Recording observations of the child in writing
- Writing reports for the funding body (e.g. youth welfare office or disability support services) [1]
- Contributing to support planning (the collaborative process of designing the child's individual support)
Practical tip: Write brief notes immediately after significant situations. Details fade quickly, and good notes make report writing much easier.
What a KIS Assistant Is NOT
This is a common source of confusion. Clear boundaries are important for everyone involved.
A kindergarten inclusion support assistant is:
- not an educator – they do not hold responsibility for the group as a whole
- not a carer or nurse – personal care tasks have clear limits
- not a therapist – occupational therapy, speech therapy, and other therapeutic services remain separate
- not a full-time helper for everything – the goal is always to build independence, not dependency [3]
These boundaries protect the child, the assistant, and the wider team.
The Legal Framework – Briefly Explained
In Germany, kindergarten inclusion support is not optional. It is a legal entitlement. [1]
The two main legal foundations are:
| Law | Who it covers |
|---|---|
| § 35a SGB VIII (Child and Youth Welfare Act) | Children with emotional or psychological disabilities |
| § 75 in conjunction with § 112 SGB IX (Disability Inclusion Act, BTHG) | Children with physical or intellectual disabilities |
The BTHG (Bundesteilhabegesetz – Federal Participation Act) is Germany's central law for the inclusion of people with disabilities.
The Diingu course Rechtsgrundlagen der Kita-Begleitung (Legal Foundations of Kita Support) explains these legal basics in plain language – free of charge.
Everyday Challenges
Working as a KIS Assistant is rewarding. But it also comes with real challenges.
Common difficulties include:
- Role ambiguity within the team – who decides what?
- Emotional demands from intensive relationship-based work
- Administrative workload from reports and documentation
- Uncertainty about how to respond to specific disabilities or behaviours
Self-care (consciously looking after your own health and energy) is not a luxury in this role – it is a necessity. The Diingu course Selbstfürsorge für Kita-Begleitungen (Self-Care for Kita Assistants) gives you practical strategies for staying well and motivated over the long term.
Tips for Getting Started
New to the role? Here are the most important things to keep in mind:
- Learn about the child before you start – read the support plan and speak with the family
- Get to know the team – good collaboration starts with mutual trust
- Observe before you act – watch how the child experiences the day before stepping in
- Ask when you are unsure – nobody expects you to know everything from day one
- Respect boundaries – your role is to support, not to take over
- Keep learning – knowledge builds confidence in challenging situations
A great starting point is the Diingu course KiTa auf einen Blick (Kita at a Glance). It gives you a quick and clear overview of how kindergartens work and what to expect.
Related Training at Diingu
Diingu offers free online courses designed specifically for kindergarten inclusion support assistants. Here are the most relevant ones:
- Grundlagen der Kita-Begleitung (Foundations of Kita Support) – the ideal starting point for newcomers
- Rechtsgrundlagen der Kita-Begleitung (Legal Foundations) – understand your legal basis
- KiTa auf einen Blick (Kita at a Glance) – orientation in the kindergarten system
- Entwicklungspsychologische Grundlagen (Child Development Basics) – understand how children grow and develop
- Kooperation mit dem Kita-Team (Working with the Kita Team) – collaborate more effectively
- Elterngespräche professionell führen (Professional Parent Communication) – communicate confidently with families
- Unterstützte Kommunikation (Augmentative Communication) – support children with communication needs
- Ressourcenorientiert arbeiten (Strengths-Based Practice) – identify and build on children's strengths
- Selbstfürsorge für Kita-Begleitungen (Self-Care for Kita Assistants) – stay healthy and motivated
- Kindeswohlgefährdung und Kinderschutz (Child Safeguarding) – protect the children in your care
All courses are free and developed specifically for professionals in the social sector.
Sources and Further Reading
[1] Teilhabeassistenz in Schule und Kindertagesstätte – Internationaler Bund - https://www.internationaler-bund.de/fileadmin/user_upload/storage_ib_redaktion/IB_Portal/Publikationen/Blaue-Reihe/24_Teilhabeassistenz_f%C3%BCr_Kinder_und_Jugendliche_Integrationshilfe_Schulbegleitung_und_-assistenz.pdf
[2] Kitabegleitung – fluegge-inklusion.de - https://fluegge-inklusion.de/kitabegleitung/
[3] Kitabegleitung – KinderJugendhilfeForum e.V. - https://www.kjfo.de/kitabegleitung/
[4] Individualbegleitung für Ihr Kind im Kita-Alltag – SimbaKids - https://simbakids.de/individualbegleitung/
[5] Kindergarten Inclusion Support Assistant – Noah's Ark Inc. - https://www.noahsarkinc.org.au/careers/kis-assistant
[6] Massive Kürzungsvorschläge bei Kindern, Jugendlichen und Menschen mit Behinderung – Der Paritätische - https://www.der-paritaetische.de/alle-meldungen/massive-kuerzungsvorschlaege-bei-kindern-jugendlichen-und-menschen-mit-behinderung/