2026

Expansion of regulations to combat staff shortages in childcare

Since 2022, nurseries and after-school care centres have been allowed to fill half of their professional staff positions with trainees. Previously, this was one-third. This was a temporary expansion of the rules to reduce staff shortages in childcare and ease the workload. The State Secretary of Participation and Integration now wants to make this expansion permanent. The new rules will come into force on 1 July 2026.

In recent years, it has become clear that the expansion offers childcare organisations flexibility during holidays or when staff are ill. As a result, they do not have to close groups as often, for example. It is also expected that the staff shortage in childcare will continue for the time being.

Rules apply to the deployment of professionals in training. Before they can start work, there must be a supervision plan agreed upon by the professional in training, the practical supervisor and the training supervisor. Good supervision is important for the responsible deployment of professionals in training and for maintaining the quality of childcare. The collective institutional memory will be taken into account. 

2025 

Change in compulsory education law 

The  Ministry of Education, Culture and Science wants to prepare a legislative amendment to adjust the start of  compulsory education from five to four years, with the aim of better stimulating the development of four-year-olds in the Netherlands and improving basic skills. Scientific research shows that when children receive good pre-school and early childhood education, they catch up during this period. It is considered very important that every child in the Netherlands has the same opportunities for a good start in primary education. 

The intention is that the legislative amendment will be based on the premise that all children need a rich developmental environment with room to play, without turning the provision for young children into a school-like environment. Pre-school education stimulates the development of language, preparatory arithmetic, motor skills and social-emotional skills in a playful manner. The Ministry of Education, Culture and Science also wants flexibility and customisation to remain possible, because not all four-year-olds are able to attend school five full days a week right away. There should still be room for extending childcare hours, or for starter classes or intake classes in education.

2024

Early childhood development programme

Through the Early Childhood Development Programme, the government has made additional funds (SPUK funds) available to twenty areas so that pre-school and early childhood education can be improved. A total of €45.4 million were available for the programme in 2024. In principle, the measure and these additional funds will run at least until the end of 2026. The implementation of the programme is in line with the National Programme for Liveability and Safety (NPLV). 

The aim of the programme is to increase equal opportunities for children. The programme comprises four pillars:

1.    Stimulating child development within the family;

2.    Enabling more children who would benefit from it to participate in pre-school education

3.    Joint training and coaching for pedagogical staff and teachers of groups 1, 2 and 3

4.    Strengthening groups 1 and 2 with a teaching assistant or pedagogical staff member alongside the qualified teacher