Our Kindergarten
Why choose Kindergarten at CompaNanny?
At CompaNanny’s Kindergarten, we offer morning care for children aged 2 to 4. At our warm and welcoming locations, your toddler can gain new experiences and play with children of the same age, under the guidance of our dedicated and experienced Childcare Professionals.
With attentive care for each child, we respond to your toddler’s stage of development and encourage them to explore and grow. Using stimulating play materials, suitable activities, and expert guidance, our Childcare Professionals help prepare toddlers for primary school in a playful way. Through a consistent daily rhythm and routines, your child becomes familiar with the structure they will encounter in the classroom. Within this framework, our Childcare Professionals thoughtfully respond to each child’s individual needs, qualities and interests. Our pedagogical vision forms the foundation of everything we do, based on our belief: The most beautiful thing a child can become is who they are.
Would you like to learn more about why CompaNanny is more than just childcare? You can read about it here!
Who is Kindergarten for?
Kindergarten is beneficial for the development of every toddler. Interaction with children of the same age supports social and language development. It also gives your child a chance to get used to spending a few hours away from mum and dad, being with other children in a group, and following a consistent daily routine. This helps make the transition to primary school smoother, also for you as a parent.
Kindergarten is also a great option if you only need half-day care, or if there are waiting lists at the Daycare. For international families, Kindergarten is an ideal way for your child to spend a few hours a day with peers and be exposed to the Dutch language.
Would you prefer full-day care for your toddler? Then take a look at our Daycare, where we offer full-day care for children aged 0 to 4.
A daily rhythm for your toddler
At our Kindergarten, we work in line with our pedagogical vision and follow a consistent daily rhythm. This provides young children with clarity, trust and a sense of calm. Throughout the day, we actively guide children through the different transitions in the daily rhythm. We do this by following a fixed sequence and using songs to support these moments. This helps your toddler understand what to expect, creating a sense of security. Within this daily rhythm, our Childcare Professionals pay close attention to the individual needs of each child.
At our Kindergarten, we work with a variety of themes that are familiar to the children, such as the seasons, professions, holidays or family. We encourage your toddler to explore these themes through different experiences, a range of activities and songs that match the theme of the moment.
What a day at our Kindergarten looks like
8.00 – 9.00 am | A good start
We start the day calmly. When you bring your child, we like to hear how things are going and if there is anything we should take into account. Our Childcare Professionals have already prepared a variety of play materials, so your toddler can choose an activity that suits their needs at that moment. Our sustainable, passive and open-ended play materials give children the freedom to explore and stimulate their imagination and creativity.
9.00 – 10.00 am | Fruit time
We sit together at the table for some fruit and a cup of water or tea. Healthy nutrition is important for growth and development. As part of our daily routine, we sing a song and chat together. This is also a valuable moment for the Childcare Professional to have one-to-one contact with your child, helping them feel seen and heard.
10.00 – 11.00 am | Circle time
During circle time, we talk about different themes that connect to the toddlers’ world. From animals to music, and from friendships to going to school. We also discuss what we will be doing for the rest of the morning, so your child knows what to expect.
11.00 – 12.00 pm | Time to explore
After circle time, there is time and space for children to play freely or take part in an activity. These moments are all about gaining new experiences and exploring the world. As outdoor play and activities are very important to us, we go outside every day in our own garden. There is also room, both indoors and outdoors, for more challenging play, where children try new things and explore their boundaries. In this way, your toddler discovers what they are capable of and builds confidence.
12.00 – 1.00 pm | Time to say goodbye
At our locations where Kindergarten ends at 12.00 pm, this marks the end of the day. At locations that close at 1.00 pm, we have lunch between 12.00 and 1.00 pm, with a warm, mostly organic meal from Moekes Maaltijd.
When you pick up your child, our Childcare Professionals and your child will tell you all about their morning at CompaNanny.
Would you like to learn more about what makes CompaNanny such a great place for children? You can read more on our page ‘What we offer children’.
Included:
Healthy meals and snacks
Diapers and care products
Stimulating play materials and activities
A trusted partner in parenting
Our team at the Kindergarten
Our people at the locations make the difference. A team of dedicated and experienced Childcare Professionals is there every morning, with great enthusiasm, to provide your toddler with the best possible care and guidance. For you as a parent, they are your first point of contact. Together with the Branch Management, they form a strong team, supported by, among others, our Childcare Specialists and Regional Quality Coaches.
Would you like to learn more about what makes our employees so special? Take a look at our “Who we are” page.
Parenting together
As a parent of a toddler, you often know better than anyone what your child’s needs, qualities and interests are. At the same time, each stage brings new challenges, such as the so-called ‘terrible twos and threes’ and the transition to primary school, which sometimes lead to questions about your toddler’s development and parenting.
That is why, at CompaNanny, we aim to work closely with you and share our knowledge and experience in parenting and child development with as many parents as possible. We are here not only for your child, but for you as well. We are happy to think along with you and align as much as possible with your wishes and needs, just as we do for your toddler.
Would you like to learn more about what makes CompaNanny such a great childcare provider for you as a parent, and the different ways we share our knowledge with you? You can read more on our page ‘What we offer parents’.
CompaNanny knowledge centre
Find a Kindergarten near you
Frequently asked questions about our Kindergarten
What are the opening hours of the Kindergarten?
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Kindergarten is always just offered in the morning. Exact opening hours may vary by location. You can find them on each location page on our website under the frequently asked questions. There, you can also see on which days the Kindergarten is open. During school holidays, the Kindergarten is closed.
Are you looking for full-day care for your toddler? Then take a look at our Daycare, where we offer full-day care for children up to the age of 4, including during the school holidays.
For how many weeks per year do you offer Kindergarten?
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Kindergarten is offered during school weeks (40 weeks per year) and is closed during school holidays.
Do you also offer full-day care for toddlers?
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Yes, absolutely! Would you like to make use of full-day care for your toddler? Then our daycare is a great option. There, we offer full-day care for children aged 0 to 4, including during school holidays. At our Daycare, your toddler will also be placed in a group with children of a similar age.
What is the difference between Kindergarten and pre-school education (VVE) in Holland?
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Both are types of childcare for toddlers (aged 2 to 4) offered during the mornings of school weeks (40 weeks per year). At CompaNanny, VVE is only offered at CompaNanny 7e Montessori and 2e Openluchtschool.
The Early Childhood Education (VVE) programme is specifically aimed at preparing children for primary school. Some children receive a VVE indication from youth healthcare services (JGZ), which gives them priority for a place. An indication is not required to enrol your child in pre-school care. However, there is a minimum attendance of two mornings per week (or three mornings in case of an indication).
How can I register my child?
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You can register your child free of charge and without obligation via the registration form on our website. This does not commit you to anything. After submitting the form, you will immediately receive a confirmation by email. Within 1 to 3 working days, our Planning & Placement team will contact you by phone to discuss your wishes and answer any questions. You will then receive a registration confirmation by email, after which our Planners will start working on your request.
If the requested childcare can be scheduled right away, our Planners will contact you and send you a non-binding offer by email. If there is not yet availability on all your preferred days, we will make you an offer based on current availability and place you on the waiting list for your preferred days. As soon as a spot becomes available, we will inform you.
If we are not yet able to make you an offer because your requested start date is too far in the future, you will still receive confirmation of your registration and be placed on the waiting list.
Are there waiting lists at CompaNanny?
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Waiting lists vary by location, time, day of childcare, age and type of childcare. You will be informed about any waiting list when we contact you regarding your registration. If there is no availability at your desired time, we are happy to think along with you to find a suitable solution.
Would you like to learn more about how waiting lists work in childcare and how you can increase your chances of securing a place for your child(ren)? You can read our blog on this topic here.
What are the costs of childcare?
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At CompaNanny, we aim to provide the best possible care and guidance for your child, as well as support for you as a parent. With our clear rates, our online calculation tool and support with applying for childcare allowance, we are happy to help you gain insight into the costs. Would you like more information about the costs of our childcare and how to apply for childcare allowance? Take a look at our childcare costs page.
Am I entitled to childcare allowance for Kindergarten?
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Yes, definitely! As with other types of childcare, you may be eligible for childcare allowance.
Whether you are entitled to childcare allowance depends on a number of conditions, including:
- You use Kindergarten at a registered childcare organisation
- You work, study, follow a pathway towards employment or attend an integration course
- Your child is registered at your home address
- You pay (part of) the childcare costs yourself
You can check whether you are entitled to childcare allowance and how much you may receive on the website of the Dutch Tax and Customs Administration.
Can I visit a CompaNanny location?
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Yes, of course! You can sign up for a tour at the location of your choice via our online tour request form. During the tour, you will get a good impression of our childcare, the groups, our Childcare Professionals and our unique way of working. Of course, there will also be plenty of opportunity to ask your questions.
Where can I go with my questions?
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We understand that you may have questions. Choosing a childcare provider for your child(ren) is an important decision. On our website, you can already find a lot of information about who we are and how we work. You can also visit our knowledge centre, where we share our knowledge about child development and parenting with parents. Do you still have questions or would you prefer personal contact? We are happy to help. On this page, you can find where to go with your specific questions.