A while ago it was in the news that there are concerns at daycare centers in our country. The place where I also leave my children in confidence and where I let a number of ladies take care of them that I don't really know very well.
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The article stated that things are not always going well in daycare centers. Research by de Volkskrant shows that this is the case with more than half of the reception centers in our country when it comes to neighborhoods with higher incomes. In neighborhoods with lower incomes, this concerns even two thirds of the day care centers that have been studied. Consider, for example, the safety in the daycare center which leaves something to be desired or the fact that there are too few teachers for the number of children there are.
De Volkskrant, together with the GGD, conducted research into more than three thousand reception centers in the Netherlands, which is only a quarter of the total number of reception centers we have here. The Municipal Health Service issues risk assessments every year. It is difficult for parents themselves to determine the quality of the care where they place their own child(ren).
The locations studied include nurseries, playgroups and out-of-school care locations. Minor to serious concerns were expressed at more than two out of three locations.
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Minister Asscher of Social Affairs and the GGD believe that these risk profiles do not pass judgment on the quality offered. "Incorrect images can arise about a childcare location." I understand that in itself, but…
So now I wonder; if the risks for the children and the associated serious concerns say nothing about the quality of the care, what does it say? My kids go to a daycare around the corner. I'm lucky that they won the Kinderopvang Branchewinner prize there this year 😉 . Anyway, this award was won because customers were invited to answer some questions and give a grade. Of course it's nice that it ends so high and we as customers are so satisfied, but can we see that as a quality measurement?
How do we know what really good reception is and what can we expect? What are the worrying cases where it appears to be lacking in security? What is meant by that safety and should we not know that as a parent? These are all questions that we don't have an answer to right now, right? We are kind of warned, but we don't know what for and we have to assume that this says nothing about the quality.
When I do my own research, I find out that (as logically expected) the law lays down the requirements that childcare and daycare centers must meet. Specifically, the main categories are:
For example, attention must be paid to certain organizational factors, such as the number of professionals in relation to the number of children. And there is a language and information obligation. The language of instruction in the childcare center must be Dutch, and daycare centers are obliged to inform us as a parent about the policy that is being pursued.
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All in all, I think I can be satisfied with the location where my children are three days a week. If I look at it with my 'non-expert view', I think that safety with gates and further design requirements have been considered. There are no small dangerous parts on the toys and the sleeping places are equipped with Aero sleep mattresses and safety fences. Teachers are classified according to the number of children and an extra child in the group will be rejected if there are too few teachers available. In addition, I am aware of the policy that is being pursued. And I'm so glad they speak Dutch!
I wonder how despite the law and other such demands it is possible that so many concerns are expressed.
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