EUKN - European Urban Knowledge Network - New form of pre-school care

New form of pre-school care - Den Bosch, The Netherlands

Introduction

KLUP UP, is a pilot project of the city of Den Bosch. It give children aged 0-4 the possibility to develop in their own way through play. Integrating playgroup work and childcare financially, substantively and organizationally in this way is unique in the Netherlands.

Problem

How do you create an environment in which a single integrated form of pre-school childcare can come into being? And how can a smooth transition from a playgroup to formal primary schooling be achieved?

Description

The creation of KLUP UP brings education, playgroup work and childcare together in such a way that both overall quality and children's development in the areas of social, cognitive and motor skills are improved. KLUP UP combines the strengths of the playgroup and childcare.

This project is scheduled to run for two years during which the local authority, Stichting Peuterspeelzalen 's-Hertogenbosch (playgroups) and Kanteel Kinderopvang (childcare) are collaborating. The project is starting at two locations, Hintham and Haren/Donk/Reit, with a group of twelve children at each. At the end of the project an evaluation will be carried out to determine whether the system should be continued and rolled out to other locations. Its success or failure may have a considerable influence on how pre-school care is organized and funded in both the near and more distant future.

Approach

In aiming to improve the possibilities for children aged 0-4 to develop, KLUP UP focuses on four elements:

playing for knowledge - play is important for children's development, KLUP UP offers numerous play options;
to each his own - the guiding principle of KLUP UP is the needs of each individual child, and it is on that basis that each 'learning' programme is drawn up;
teamwork - the teachers/carers at KLUP UP are a team, bringing together their educational background and involving the children's parents;
room to play - KLUP UP works with flexible sessions, offering a wide range of schemes from a few hours a week to the entire school day, every day.

Results

The results of the project are to be scrutinized and evaluated on 1 September 2006. The project must be economically and financially viable. Uptake levels must be higher than the available uptake at playgroups and childcare facilities in the same year within the Den Bosch region. The project is part of the integrated approach for 0-12-year-olds.

Contact info

Stichting KLUP UP
Phone: +31 73 6901880
info@klupup.nl

Project start date

01/09/2004

Links

Stichting KLUP UP (Dutch)

Document type

case

Themes

Urban Policy > Social inclusion & integration > Quality of life

Keywords

Skills improvement, Social services