Recognising expatriates have limited family support in terms of child care, the British School in The Netherlands has unveiled plans for international day care.

26 July 2006

AMSTERDAM — Recognising expatriates have limited family support in terms of child care, the British School in the Netherlands has unveiled plans for international day care.

The decision follows the results of a parental survey undertaken earlier this year. A total of 471 BSN families replied to the survey and the results showed a strong demand for a 'BSN' day care programme. "79 percent of respondents claimed they would make use of such a facility," BSN's Marketing Manager Tracy Layton-Smith said.

Qualified, experienced professionals will be recruited to provide a "caring but stimulating environment where young children can grow, learn and develop," she said.

Purpose designed sites are planned for the Leidschenveen and Mariahoeve locations and will cater for the needs of between 60-100 babies and children from 3 months to 3+ years. The day care will be provided from September 2009.

Explaining the rationale behind the new service, Principal Trevor Rowell said it was a logical step. "We educate in a changing world – the number of double working parents or single parents within our international community is increasing.  Both Dutch and UK governments are already encouraging state schools provide full day care for all children from 2010 and we need to ensure that we also respond to these changes."

Living away from their home country, expatriates obviously have limited family support in terms of child care. The convenience of having access to high quality English speaking day care in the same vicinity as their child’s school will be a very welcome service.

The Leidschenveen facility will open in September 2009 and the Mariahoeve based centre on the Wheatfields site will follow in January 2010.  Applications for admissions will open in September 2008 and will be open to all – not just existing BSN parents.

As part of this new development the school also plans to offer After School Care for its own pupils aged 3 – 11 years in both the Mariahoeve and Leidschenveen areas.

Contact BSN for further details.

[Copyright Expatica 2006]