Well-organised alignment of schools and after-school care in Amstelveen
Since children are partially allowed back in school from 11 May 2020, efforts are made behind the scenes to ensure a smooth planning of the partial opening. Besides hygiene and the education programme, the organisation itself is not a small task.
It’s been a puzzle that child-care organisations, schools and the city have figured out the best they can in the interests of parents and children.
Frank Berkhout, alderman for education says: "Child-care organisations, school boards and the city have worked much and closely together. The aim has been throughout to organise the partial opening from 11 May 2020 so that it best suits the parents. The aim was to line up after-school care with the finish times of schools and to make sure that emergency care remains well organised. I am pleased that this has now been put in place and realise the demands on educational staff, teachers and location directors. I greatly appreciate their commitment, flexibility and care for our children".
The joint arrangements apply to all of Amstelveen in compliance with the national guidelines. Schools will further develop these arrangements and keep the parents abreast. These arrangements are temporarily applicable until primary schools fully re-open. As it stands now, this is expected to be sometime in June 2020.
Significant change in after-school care
There are some changes for parents whose children attend after-school care. Children with an after-school contract can attend after-school care on the days they go to school. This does not depend on the days or the number of days they 'normally' go to after-school care. For example, if children normally go to after-school care on Mondays and Tuesdays and now go to school on Tuesdays and Thursdays, they are allowed to attend after-school care on both these days. If a child normally only attends after-school care on one day, the child can now attend after-school care on both school days. Parents have to let their after-school care location know if and when they want to make use of childcare.
Emergency care continues
Children of parents in a vital profession and children in a vulnerable (home) situation will be able to keep attending emergency care from 11 May 2020. This means that, in principle, they will be able to go to school and after-school care for 100%. The emergency care will no longer take place at the eight central locations in Amstelveen, but during normal school hours at the children’s own school and then at their own after-school care locations. The city remains responsible for the organisation of emergency care for children aged 0 to approximately 12 years. Much use is made of this emergency care and the numbers are increasing. At the beginning of the corona crisis, for example, approximately 90 children aged 0-4 years went to the emergency care each week. That number has risen to 170 in the week before the May holidays. In the group of 4-12 years, the demand rose from 180 to 278 children.
Vulnerable children
Also children in vulnerable (home) situations can attend emergency care. At the same time, these children receive adapted care where possible. In a number of cases it has turned out that extra family support or short-term assistance by teachers at school is better suited to the needs of the child and family.