1. Place guarantee to ECEC

In Flanders, there is no legal right to childcare before the child turns 2-and-a-half years old. However, centre-based childcare is obliged to open up the services to all children. As long as the offer is not sufficient, the Flemish government determines which groups can make use of the offer as a matter of priority, depending on accessibility. The organisers who commit themselves to respecting these priority rules receive subsidies for this.

Childcare does not aim to combat disadvantages but attempts to make some difference through progressive universalism. This means that extra attention is paid to increase accessibility to children from vulnerable families: among other things, child care is aimed at vulnerable families and is strengthened in terms of content and funding. The development of child care for children with specific care needs is stimulated.

The agency Growing up is responsible for the balanced distribution (programming) of the financial resources made available by the Flemish Government for the creation of new childcare places and for the preservation of existing childcare places. All this is done on the basis of objective parameters and conditions with which childcare locations must comply.

By childcare of babies and toddlers we mean raising them professionally and for a fee, contributing to their development and taking care of them until they go to pre-primary education. At the end of 2019, there were a total of 95 027 childcare places in Flanders for babies and toddlers. 75.8% of these places are places where parents pay a contribution according to their income for the care of their baby or toddler. 

2 Affordability 

Childcare

Grant system

The subsidy system for the centre-based childcare services of babies and toddlers works like a staircase starting from step 0. In most childcare facilities, you pay an income-based rate: a price based on your income and family composition.Childcare centres obtain more subsidies per each step, but there are also more conditions that have to be met. 

Translation of the above figure:

• Trap 1 = Step 1: Basic subsidy

• Trap 2 = Step 2: Subsidy income-based rate

• Trap 3 = Step 3: Plus subsidy

The childcare centres of babies and toddlers with a permit but without any subsidy (step 0) or with only a basic subsidy (step 1) are free to determine the price that families have to pay for the care of their baby or toddler. Families pay a price that is not related to their income. In the childcare centres that receive an income subsidy (step 2) or a plus subsidy (step 3) on top of the basic subsidy, families pay a fee according to their income. In specific situations, parents can apply for an individual reduced rate. The childcare centres with an income rate subsidy or plus subsidy are obliged to respect a number of priority rules:

1. Childcare centres with subsidised income rate (step 2): give absolute priority to children from families for whom childcare is necessary within the framework of the work situation (keeping a job, looking for a job or following vocational training for this purpose), but also to children from single-parent families, from low-income families and to foster children.

2. Childcare centres with a plus subsidy (step 3): implement a proactive childcare policy to give vulnerable families a place to stay, adapt their working to vulnerable families and build up and disseminate expertise on the respectful treatment of vulnerable families. Furthermore, the childcare centres on step 3 should also make an effort to recruit staff from vulnerable groups.

In order to improve access, subject to certain conditions, additional grants may be awarded to childcare centres.

• For inclusive care of children with specific care needs,

• For urgent care (only for childcare centres with an income subsidy). This is an additional subsidy to keep a place free for a family that needs a care place within a month for the following reasons: 

  • The parent who was unemployed suddenly finds work and a child has no care possibilities within the family or informal network.

  • The parent suddenly starts education and has no care possibilities within the family or informal network.

  • There is an acute crisis in the family which makes it necessary for the child to go to child care.

  • The family can no longer make use of previous care facilities without their consent.

• For childcare services with extended operating hours, available only to childcare centers receiving a basic subsidy, an additional subsidy is provided for care during atypical hours. This applies to childcare that operates at least one hour beyond the mandatory 11-hour minimum, either before 7 a.m. or after 6 p.m., provides at least one full hour of care on a weekend day, or offers at least one full hour of care on a public holiday.

• For flexible opening hours: 

  • an opening time of at least 30 minutes before 7 a.m.

  • at least 30 minutes after 6 p.m.

  • on a weekend day

  • on a public holiday

  • on one or more days in addition to the 220 opening days minimum required for a basic grant

Pre-primary education

Costs

Free Enrolment 
Enrolling a child in primary education is free, both in pre-primary and primary school. Schools are not allowed to charge an enrolment fee.

Free Materials 
Materials and activities that are strictly necessary to achieve educational objectives are also free. The government defines these educational objectives, outlining what children need to learn. These materials and activities are listed in an official register of free materials, and schools cannot request a contribution for them. Additionally, schools cannot require a deposit for these materials and must replace worn-out items at their own expense. If needed for homework, children can take these materials home.

Contribution for Other Materials, Services, and Activities

Schools often use additional materials and offer more activities than those strictly required to meet educational objectives. These materials and activities help to make learning more engaging. Schools may also provide additional services. For these expenses, schools may ask parents for a contribution:

• Activities during school hours that are not strictly necessary for educational objectives, such as theatre visits, day trips, sports activities, and swimming lessons.

• Materials that are not strictly necessary for educational objectives but are expected by the school. The school decides on the required materials, and it is not possible to look for a cheaper alternative.

• These materials must be purchased at the school.

• The school may request specific items, such as a particular magazine, a specific type of folder, or a T-shirt with the school logo for physical education.

Maximum Contribution Per School Year: Strict Maximum Invoice

For these contributions, schools must adhere to a maximum amount per school year. This maximum amount is known as the 'strict maximum invoice', which is adjusted annually for inflation. For the school years 2023-2024 and 2024-2025, the strict maximum invoice per school year for nursery education is €55. These amounts apply per school. If a child changes schools, the new school is not required to take into account any amounts already paid at a previous school.