Toddler programmes and pre-school education in Amstelveen

The city of Amstelveen provides subsidies for toddler programmes and pre-school education for children from the age of 2,5 up to and including 4 years old.

Toddler programmes

Do you find it important that your child attends pre-school? Are you ineligible for childcare benefit from the tax authorities? Then you can make use of a toddler programme. A toddler package in Amstelveen is a minimum of 8 hours and a maximum of 11 hours per week, spread over two half-days per week (maximum 40 weeks per year).

Conditions

• The child is between 2.5 and 4 years old and registered in the city of Amstelveen
• Parents are not eligible for childcare benefit (‘kinderopvangtoeslag’)
• Your child has not received a pre-school advice indication

Enrolment

Multiple organizations offer toddler programmes in Amstelveen. However, there is a limit to the number of available placements for the subsidized programmes. You can find the organizations and their contact details below.

Costs

The contribution for the toddler programme is dependent on your income. The city of Amstelveen will pay the contribution up to the maximum tariff of € 8,46. The contribution will be calculated using the VNG table. You will find these calculations in a table below this paragraph.

Does your child care centre have a higher rate than € 8,46? The you have to pay the difference between the € 8,46 and the rate of the centre yourself.

The child care of your choice can help you calculate the correct fee. The hourly rates and the availability can differ per centre. This means that your contribution can differ per centre.

Monthly fees for 8 hours of child care per week

Below calculation of the monthly fees is based on the hourly rate of € 8,46 and two days of child care of 4 hours for 40 weeks per year. This calculation is based on the invoicing of 12 months a year. A child care centre can also choose to invoice 10 or 11 months a year, which would mean a higher fee per month.

Monthly fees for 11 hours of child care per week

Below calculation of the monthly fees is based on the hourly rate of € 8,46 and two days of child care of 5,5 hours for 40 weeks per year. This calculation is based on the invoicing of 12 months a year. A child care centre can also choose to invoice 10 or 11 months a year, which would mean a higher fee per month. 

Early childhood education (VVE)

Having a good start at primary school is important. This is why local governments offer Early childhood education (‘Voorschoolse Educatie’ or ‘VVE’) for toddlers from 2.5 to 4 years old. This VVE programme entails a minimum of 16 hours a week for 40 weeks per year.
In the VVE toddler groups there is extra time and care for the development of the child. There is extra support for language learning. Everything, from the play materials, books, songs and games, has a focus on the development of language skills. The VVE toddler groups are run by specially trained pedagogical staff.

Conditions

• Your child is between 2.5 and 4 years old and registered in the city of Amstelveen
• Your child has received a VVE indication from the GGD*

*The criteria for the VVE indication are determined by the city. The child healthcare centre (GGD) tracks the development of your child from birth. They will check if your child meets the criteria for early childhood education.

Enrolment

There are multiple organisations in Amstelveen that offer early childhood education in half daycare. Did you receive an indication from the GGD? Then your child, with the indication, can apply with one of the toddler groups VVE at the organizations below. 

Costs

The VVE programme entails a minimum of 16 hours and a maximum of 16,5 hours a week. The city covers the first three hours of VVE. You will not have to pay a fee for these hours.

Parents who are eligible for child care benefits (‘kinderopvangtoeslag’) can use these to pay for the remaining hours.

When you are not eligible for child care benefits from the tax authorities, the city of Amstelveen will subsidize the costs. You also have to pay a contribution towards the costs, which is dependent on your income. You can find the contribution per income bracket in the table below.

Example costs 13 hours

In the below table you will see an example of the costs based on 13 hours of early childhood education for 40 weeks with an hourly rate of € 8,46. This calculation is based on an invoice per 12 months. Some child care organisations choose to invoice per 10 or 11 months, in which case the monthly total will be higher.

VoorleesExpress

The VoorleesExpress supports parents in helping their child develop language skills. You can find more information on the website of the Voorleesexpress.

Childcare allowance

Do you want to be eligible for childcare allowance? Check out the website Toeslagen to see if you are entitled to a childcare allowance and apply for it immediately.

How much allowance you receive depends on your situation. For example, how much childcare you think you will need each month. If something changes in your situation, this will also affect the amount of your allowance. Therefore, always report changes, such as in the amount of your income and childcare hours, immediately via Mijn toeslagen on the website Toeslagen or the app Kinderopvangtoeslag. Then you will receive the allowance to which you are entitled. Not too much and not too little.

Need more information or have a question?

Do you have any further questions or should you like to have further information about the toddler programmes or pre-school education?

Please contact the coordinator of the municipality at vvecoordinator@amstelveen.nl.