The groups & staff members

Group composition

BORUS Hoofddorp uses a vertical division of the groups. Each group provides care for a maximum of 10 children in the age of 10 weeks to 3 years old. At each group there are 2 pedagogical employees and possibly also a trainee (depending on the group composition and the number of children). At BORUS childcare, we find it important to work child-wise.

To offer children from the age of 3 extra challenges and to prepare them for primary school, we have created 2 horizontal groups (maximum of 16 children) for this age group. When the children turn 3 years old, they will move to the 3+ groups. With the 3+ program we created a course that is similar to the course at the primary school.

The number of professionals that are needed, taking into account the number of children per age category, is calculated on the basis of the policy rules Quality Childcare:

The reasons why we have chosen for vertical groups are:

• For children it can be very nice if their baby brother or sister is taken care of in the same group. Brothers and/ or sisters are not separated.
• There is the possibility that young children can learn from the older children.
• The older children learn how to behave with the younger children.
• A child can join the age group that fits him/ her the most in terms of development. Children with a developmental disadvantage or a handicap therefore fit well into a vertical group.
• The children and the parents do not have to deal with a group change. Therefore, they can bond with the management as well as with other parents and children.
• Little chance of organisational problems regarding the flow of one age group to another.

Merging of out-of-school care groups

If fewer children are present on certain days a week or during holidays, daycare groups are structurally merged, taking into account the 4 eyes/ears-principle. The permanent pedagogical employee stays with the children of the group, ensuring stability and safety for the children. You will of course be informed about this in advance. For example, the merging will be discussed during the intake interview, is mentioned on the information boards next to the group rooms and you will receive written notice of changes.

3-hour agreement

In order to improve the flexibility of the organisation, it is allowed to have less pedagogical staff members at the daycare center for 3 hours a day.
This may only be done during certain time slots.
These time slots are:

• Until 9.30 am
• Between 12.30 pm and 3 pm
• After 4.30 pm

It is not permitted to have less staff member in the time slots between 9.30 am and 12.30 pm and between 3 pm and 4.30 pm.

At the daycare center of BORUS Kinderopvang, it is customary to put the different groups together at the beginning and at the end of the day, during the drop off and pick up times. This is done regarding the working hours of our employees, in order to comply with the ‘3 hour regulation’ from the moment we open until the moment we close.

Our pedagogical staff members

Of course, the pedagogical staff members of BORUS Kinderopvang are in possession of a Certificate of Good Behavior (VOG) and a diploma. This is a diploma that qualifies according to the Collective Labor Agreement (CAO) for Childcare.

Pedagogical employees who are still in the training process do the so-called Vocational Guidance Learning Path (BBL). This means that the pedagogical staff member goes to school 1 day a week and works for at least 2 days a week.

The characteristic of a trainee is that he/she is not yet fully responsible, but that he/ she gradually gets more responsibilities as his/ her skills grow. During the 1st and 2nd year this increases gradually from 0 to 100% responsible and in the 3rd and last year also 100%.

In consultation with the school and BORUS Kinderopvang, a plan will be drawn up, showing what the employability of the BBL-person is. They are supervised by a permanent internship supervisor who has followed a training at Calibris. BORUS Kinderopvang regularly has trainees who watch the group. They do the Vocational Training Track (BOL) and apart from their internship period they go to school. These trainees are not counted as pedagogical staff members and they do everything under the supervision of a qualified pedagogical employee. BORUS Kinderopvang is a recognised training company and works together with Calibris.