FAQ
At Zo Kinderopvang we follow the general guidelines set by the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) and the Municipal Health Service (GGD). We are very much in favour of vaccination and recommend that parents participate in the Dutch National Immunisation Programme, just as we do. We ask for all children’s vaccination details and keep them on file. But there is no legal requirement for you to do so. Parents have the right to refuse to share vaccination details (this is stated in the Personal Data Protection Act). And although we are aware of many children’s vaccination details, this information is just a snapshot. For this reason, we make no statements about vaccination coverage at our facilities.
Would you like to know more about childhood diseases and the Dutch National Immunisation Programme? Visit the RIVM website.
Yes, at Zo Kinderopvang you can swap days. This means that you can, for example, take your holidays at another time in the same quarter, without needing to pay extra. Swapping days can be very convenient if you occasionally need extra care. Of course, you can also request extra care days at an additional cost, meaning you can always have childcare when you need it.
Each location has its own waiting list. Please contact the location manager of the facility of your choice to find out the current waiting times.
No, you don’t need to. Your child’s fourth birthday is a very special occasion that we are keen to celebrate with them. This will be their very last day at daycare, and the contract ends automatically. Should you wish to end your contract sooner, please take the notice period of one month into account. This notice period can start at any time during the month.
Yes, this is an option, in consultation with the location manager. The extra costs we incur mean that we charge for an extra day. The following rate applies: 1 extra day is charged at 11 times the hourly rate.
You will find the opening hours on each location’s webpage.
All of our locations are closed on all public holidays (except Good Friday). On 24 and 31 December we close a little earlier than usual, at 4:30pm, to allow all of us to spend a little more time with our loved ones.
- Nieuwjaarsdag
- Tweede Paasdag
- Koningsdag
- Bevrijdingsdag (only in 2020, 2025, 2030 etc)
- Hemelvaartsdag
- Tweede Pinksterdag
- Kerstmis (eerste en tweede kerstdag)
No, unfortunately we don’t offer this. In childcare the hourly rate is used only as a calculation tool, not as a unit of care that we offer. This can be a bit confusing, but we are happy to explain how it works.
Dutch childcare is subject to strict quality requirements, and rightly so. In addition to the requirements set down by law, we at Zo Kinderopvang want to offer the best quality to your child in terms of both care and opportunities for development. This quality is directly linked to how our childcare practitioners are rostered on as well as, for example, the staff-to-child ratio (BKR): the number of children we care for per childcare practitioner).
We draw up our staff rosters depending on when the first children are dropped off and the last ones are picked up. This means that even if you bring your child at 8am and pick them up at 5pm, our staff members are still scheduled to work from the first to the last child. This is why we are only able to offer childcare in units and not in individual hours.
Our intention is not to charge you for hours you don’t need. We aim to make our childcare offering flexible, and tailor-made where possible, so that we are able to meet your personal needs within the framework of high-quality childcare.
You can find out more about this on the Quality page.
Visit the Childcare costs page to learn more about our rates. This page also includes the calculation tool, which you can use to calculate the monthly costs based on your income.
No, you will not be charged any administration costs.
Coming to childcare for the first time means a lot of stimuli, so every child starts by attending for settling-in mornings. We offer these twice as standard, and we will discuss your child’s needs with you beforehand to adjust the settling-in period accordingly.
How the settling-in period works
About two weeks before the exciting first day, you will receive an invitation for you and your child to come and meet the staff so you can get to know each other. The morning begins with an intake interview, where you will have ample opportunity to tell us more about your child and to ask questions. After that, you should feel confident about handing over the care of your child to us. You can pick him or her up again after about two hours.
Assuming that the first settling-in morning goes well, we will plan a second settling-in session which will take up a full morning (i.e. slightly longer than the first session). The precise focus will depend on the age of your child.
Babies
Being with lots of other children for the first time, in a new environment, and on top of that being without you: this takes a bit of getting used to, especially for a baby. During the two settling-in mornings, we allow your child to calmly get used to all the new impressions. We feed your baby and let him or her play, look around, and have a little nap. This allows your child to get used to daycare in their own way.
Toddlers
Is your child’s first time at childcare during the toddler phase? On the settling-in mornings we will focus on the new play and sleep situation, being and interacting with other children of the same age, and – of course – adjusting to your absence. We also immediately start building a comfortable relationship based on trust between your child and our staff. After all, these new faces represent quite a big change in your young toddler’s life.
Pre-schoolers
For children of pre-school age, the settling-in period is about getting to know the staff and their new peers and playmates. Our toys, rules, age groups and eating and sleeping rituals may also be different from home or playgroup. We give them the opportunity to experience all this during the two settling-in mornings, exactly as the pre-school group does every day.
School-aged children
If your child is already at primary school, they will be quite used to being away from home – but it doesn’t making starting after school care any less exciting. The environment, the childcare practitioners and the other children are all unfamiliar to your child. All in all, there’s a lot to get used to. So the settling-in period helps primary school children to get a confident start at childcare too. Together, we will look at what your child needs in order to feel at home with us quickly. Whether you can have your child be picked up from school varies according to the location. We are happy to discuss this during the intake interview, or you can speak to the location manager.
The first real day of childcare can be quite nerve-wrecking and something familiar might help your child settle in more quickly. If your child is attached to a particular cuddly toy or a dummy, be sure to bring it along.
On the first day, don’t forget:
- some spare clothes
- a copy of the vaccination certificate
- a photo of your son or daughter
- a photo of your son or daughter with his or her parent(s)
Lunch and food at childcare
We supply food and drink during lunchtime care, so there’s no need for you to prepare a lunchbox. Please do let us know about any allergies or dietary requirements and we will be sure to take these into account.
Our brochure includes more handy tips for a good start at Zo Kinderopvang.
Yes, you can continue to breastfeed. All our locations have facilities for this.
Please note, however, that the sucking reflex diminishes when babies are about six weeks old and they may then find it harder to drink from the bottle. We therefore recommend that you practice bottle-feeding at home on a regular basis, even before your child is six weeks old. This will ensure that the bottle does not cause problems at childcare.
Would you like to bring your breast milk to daycare? The rules of our quality manual state that we are not permitted to accept frozen breast milk, so always bring it in liquid form, preferably cooled rather than at room temperature.
No, we have these at the childcare centre, but feel free to bring one along if you want a specific brand or if your child is attached to their own dummy or bottle. The location manager can tell you more about this.
Daily routines vary according to age and are outlined below.
Older babies
07:30 – 09:30: drop off time
09:30 – 10:00: fruit and juice
10:00 – 10:15: nappy change, some children nap
11:30 – 12:00: sandwiches
12:00 – 12:30: nappy change
12:30 – 15:30: nap, nappy change, activities with babies that are awake
15:45 – 16:00: snack, cracker or rice cracker with juice
16:00 – 18:30: pick up time
Toddlers
07:30 – 09:30: drop off time
09:30 – 10:00: fruit and a drink
10:00 – 10:15: nappy change/potty
10:30 – 11:00: activities
11:15 – 12:00: sandwiches
12:00 – 12:30: nappy change/potty and sleep ritual
12:30 – 15:00: sleep
15:00 – 15:15: getting dressed
15:15 – 15:45: crackers and a drink
16:00 – 16:15: nappy change/potty
16:15 – 18:30: activities, pick up time
17:30 – 18:30: eat raw vegetables (except carrot)
Pre-schoolers
07:30 – 09:30: drop off time
09:30 – 10:00: fruit and a drink
10:00 – 10:15: nappy change/toilet
10:30 – 11:00: activities
11:15 – 12:00: sandwiches
12:00 – 12:30: brush teeth, nappy change/toilet and sleep ritual
12:30 – 15:00: sleep
15:00 – 15:15: getting dressed
15:15 – 15:.45: crackers and a drink
16:00 – 16:15: nappy change/toilet
16:00 – 18:30: activities, pick up time
17:30 – 18:30: eat raw vegetables
We offer daycare to children aged 0 to 4 years and after school care to children aged 4 to 12 years. We do this in a safe and secure environment, with plenty of stimulation and challenges. In doing so we create a healthy environment for bringing up children, one in which each child can grow and develop in their own way. You can read more about this on the Pedagogical vision page.
The best way is to let the location manager know. He or she will present the request at the next parent committee meeting. We try to ensure that the various childcare groups (‘core groups’) are equally represented on the committee. You will be informed asap as to whether and when a place is available.
Unfortunately not. One parent per household can be a member of the parent committee.
It varies by location, but each parent committee comprises a minimum of three and a maximum of seven parents.
You can participate for a two-year term. After that you can be re-elected twice.
You can cancel your childcare contract in writing or by sending an email to the location manager.
You can cancel at any time; there is a one-month notice period from the day that you cancel.