At Zo Kinderopvang we actively work on quality improvement and professionalisation. For this reason, our quality system adheres to the globally recognised ISO-9001 standard, meaning that we work according to the policies and protocols that govern this quality standard. Our own policies and protocols are regularly evaluated and adjusted as necessary. We use various internal audits and an annual external audit by certification and inspection service Lloyd’s Register to determine whether we have successfully implemented our quality management system and whether it supports us sufficiently.

In addition, all our locations bear the HZK (Harmonisation of Quality Assessment in the Healthcare Sector) quality mark. This independent label stands for long-term quality improvement in the healthcare and welfare sector. Organisations and practices with the HZK quality mark demonstrate that they take healthcare and welfare seriously and that they meet the standards expected by clients, professionals and relevant stakeholders. Organisations with the HZK quality mark have their internal affairs in order, put the client first and are constantly working to improve care and service provision.

This ensures that we continue to grow and develop as an organisation.

The Childcare Governance Code is a set of guidelines for honest and transparent management and internal supervision. The Code requires policies on, for example, openness, integrity, social responsibility and the roles of directors and management, the supervisory board and supervisors.

At Zo Kinderopvang we believe in the importance of good governance and wholeheartedly endorse the Childcare Governance Code. General manager Danielle Leeman and her management team organise contrasting views via the Works Council and the central parent committee. We test strategic resolutions with colleagues and clients and use these opinions to refine our policies. The Governance Code is executed by our parent organisation Samenwerkende Kinderopvang and the supervisory board.

Zo Kinderopvang has been an active member of the Dutch Childcare Sector Organisation for a number of years. We participate in various working groups and are involved in the continued development of the sector. Thanks to our active approach, we’re always up to speed with current developments.

A parent committee (PC) contributes to the quality of a childcare location. Every Zo Kinderopvang location has an active PC that meets with the location manager regularly to discuss day-to-day policy. The PC’s most important objective is to represent the parents and their interests in the best possible way. The way in which the PC operates is laid down in participation rules. Within each PC, we aim to achieve representation of all groups at the location.

Advisory role

The PC also plays an advisory role with respect to childcare quality. The committee has the right of consultation and even right of consent on a number of issues set down in childcare legislation. When decisions are made on these issues, the parent committee is given the opportunity to advise on them.

The PC has right of consent on the following:

• Execution of the quality policy relating to 1) the number of children per practitioner; 2) group sizes; 3) education requirements for staff and; 4) the use of staff-in-training
• Pedagogical policy
• Nutritional matters
• Health & safety risk assessment
• Opening hours
• Defining or amending a complaints procedure and appointing members of the complaints committee
• Changes to rates

Central parent committee

The PC chairperson from each location is a representative in the central parent committee (CPC). This committee consults with management and constitutes the advisory body for all matters relating to the central organisational policy. The CPC also serves as an important sounding board for the parent committees, for example for exchanging information and for determining whether any bottlenecks that may arise are an issue throughout the organisation or just at a specific location.

Would you like to join the committee?

Would you like to be a member of the parent committee? Let your location manager know.

We compile an annual complaints report which we send to the Municipal Health Service (GGD), the municipality and the parent committees. Is there something you are not happy about? Please let your location manager know.

You can find our complaints procedure (in Dutch) here.