Some expats may be surprised at the young age at which Belgian parents enrol their children in crèches (public nursery schools) and playgroups. Choosing one is a serious matter and knowing that your child is properly looked after will make a big difference to your piece of mind.
It goes without saying that visits to the proposed crèche are important, but several places should be visited to give you an idea of how each one works.
There are several factors to consider before making your final decision: Is it clean? Are there plenty of toys? Does the staff look competent? Are the staffing levels always maintained? What do they feed the children? What language does the staff speak? If you are already a multilingual family, might another language be too much?Talking to other parents is also a good idea. Are they enthusiastic about the staff and do the parents have a good relationship with them? Are the children responded to quickly if they are upset?
As for the crèche itself, it is advisable to also enquire about the status of the crèche: Is it an authoritative, certified or subsidised institution? What programme is on offer? Is there a minimum frequentation period? What does the cost of the crèche cover? Does it include food and nappies? Do they cater for special dietary requirements? What are the financial impacts if your child falls ill?
The crèche should want you to come to visit with your child, giving you an opportunity to see how things are run.
Enrolling in a crèche
The most important thing to remember is that crèche places go very quickly and you should reserve your place well before birth!
There are excellent state crèches, with fully qualified staff, that care for children up to three years old. They usually give priority to children whose parent’s work full-time. They can be used on a part-time basis if required.
The application process for state crèches should start in the fourth month of pregnancy when an interview is organised to discuss how many days a week the child with attend and the date he or she will start at the crèche. Confirmation is sent in the seventh month of pregnancy. Every case is dealt with in chronological order.
The crèches are open throughout the year, usually from 7am to 6pm (depending on local working hours), except on weekends and national holidays. The cost varies, according to the family income bracket. The price of private crèches, however, is freely set by the owners.
The financial contribution for official crèches in the Flemish system cost between July 2005 and June 2006 between EUR 1.31 and EUR 23.31 per day per child, depending on the net joint income of the married, co-habiting or single parent household. There is a tax deduction of up to EUR 11.20 per day.
In the French-speaking system costs range from EUR 1.99 to EUR 28.04, depending on household income, but tax deductions of up to 70 percent are also available.
At official childcare centres there are also reductions granted to parents placing more than one child in the same crèche.
Several of the English speaking, international schools offer programmes for the pre-school age child, increasingly with an exposure to a second language. There are also privately run pre-schools similar to American nursery schools, but, as yet, the co-operative nursery school concept has not caught on in Belgium.
Full details on all areas of Belgium can be obtained from the organisations that supervise and set the national standards.
Office de la Naissance et de l’Enfance (O.N.E) (French)
Chaussée de Charleroi, 95
1060 Bruxelles
Ph: 02 542 1211
Fax: 02 542 1261
Email info@one.be
Online: www.one.be
Kind en Gezin (Dutch)
Hallepoortlaan, 27
1060 Brussel
Ph: 02 533 1211
Fax: 02 534 1382
Email: info@kindengezin.be
Online: www.kindengezin.be
In addition, O.N.E. and K&G have a list of accepted baby-minders. These organisations also have a library of books, mainly in French and Dutch but some in English and German, on childcare. They may be borrowed free of charge.
Playgroups
In playgroups, children between one-and-a-half and three years of age meet in small, rotating groups of about six children in each other’s homes, according to the area.
For slightly older children, from two-and-a-half to four, there are paid playgroups, where children go three to five mornings a week to join in creative activities, pre-schoolwork, etc.
There are also mother-and-baby clubs and support groups. Women’s clubs and churches are good sources of information about playgroups for English-speaking pre-school children.
La Farandoline, a.s.b.l, is a French-speaking organisation of creative playgroups for children from one to three years. It operates in Auderghem, Boitsfort, Etterbeek, Jette, Schaerbeek, La Hulpe, Rhode-St-Genèse, Rixensart, Genval, Braine-l’Alleud, Uccle, Waterloo, Woluwé-St-Pierre and Woluwé-St-Lambert.
They meet two mornings a week and the children are cared for by a trained animatrice/animator with the help of a mother (this job is shared on a rotating basis). There are not usually more than 15 children in each ’Farandoline’. There is a small charge. For information and addresses contact the head office at:
La Farandoline a.s.b.l.
Avenue de Longueville 16, bte 5
1150 Brussels
Ph: 02 770 8856
Fax: 03 770 7327
Email: lafarandoline@yucom.be
Kindergartens
Within the Belgium school system, there are Kindergartens (écoles maternelles/kleuterscholen) available for children ages two-and-a-half to six.
These schools are usually attached to primary schools and are open before and after school hours in many locations. They are cheaper than official childcare centres.
Children start primary school at age six. For those parents who choose not to send their children to school until age six, there are private care providers whose services are supervised by O.N.E./K&G (see contact information under Enrolling in a crèche).
Updated June 2006
[Copyright Expatica 2006]
Subject: Childcare in Belgium
