The Green Hall of Multifunctional Center De Statie in Sas van Gent resembles a normal childcare center. Yet there is something different, because childcare is free. There is a trial with free childcare in Sas van Gent, Eede and Heikant.
Free childcare
All children aged 0 to 12 years can attend for free at the three locations. It does not matter whether their parents work or not. There is 16 hours of free childcare per week for the youngest age category. 8 hours of care after school is normal for older children. Only until July.
Free childcare pays off, so in the region they are very sorry that the scheme is ending. Free childcare ensures more equality of opportunity among children, it prevents some of the costs for youth care, parents work more and it can ensure a better work-life balance
Reduces inequality of opportunity
Lieselot Vanhijfte works at Childcare Zeeuws-Vlaanderen in Sas van Gent. Free childcare reduces inequality of opportunity, which she sees happening in practice. And the step to the primary school, which is in the same building, is much easier.
Development in the parents
Free childcare also ensures development for parents, as can be read in one of the studies. Parents study or work more and have a better balance between work and being at home. If free childcare actually ends in July, you will immediately notice the consequences.
Competitive struggle
The trial with free childcare started in April 2022 to compete with education in Belgium. Education there was more popular with parents living in the border region. Education in Belgium is free from the age of 2.5. If childcare and schools there are well filled with Dutch children, this will have negative consequences for Zeeuws-Vlaanderen. If the trial with free childcare ends, one in five parents say they will choose Belgium again.
Rianne Vons from Childcare Zeeuws-Vlaanderen is happy with the reports. She has known for years that free childcare provides more equal opportunities among children and that parents may start a new study.
Pot of money is empty
The pot of money for the trial with free childcare is now empty. Vons knew this was coming, but had envisioned a gentle transition to free childcare throughout the Netherlands.
But that doesn’t seem to be happening. There is no new cabinet yet and what exactly will happen to the plans for free childcare is still a mystery. The starting groups for toddlers will continue until mid-2025. Parents pay a small part for this care and the region pays the rest.
By: National Education Guide / Femke van Arendonk
