Children spend a large portion of their early years in childcare. These years are crucial for cognitive, language, and social-emotional development, and the environment in which a child spends those years matters. Childcare plays a bigger role in this than many parents might expect. But what does science actually say about this? The findings are predominantly positive, but nuanced: quality proves to be the decisive factor.
What Does Research Say About the Effects of Childcare on School Performance?
Long-term research into early childhood development shows that children who attend a daycare center (kinderdagverblijf/KDV) from a young age are often better prepared when they start primary school. They score higher on school-readiness skills such as numeracy, language proficiency, and the ability to concentrate on tasks. This advantage persists in some studies until around Year 2 or 3, although the gap with children raised at home gradually narrows over time.
Important detail: these positive effects apply particularly to children from families with lower education levels or a language delay. For children from language-rich home environments, the effect is smaller, but still measurable in terms of social skills and independence. So it's not about whether childcare helps, but under what circumstances and for which child.
Cognitive Development: A Better Start in Year 1
Children who regularly attend a daycare center (kinderdagverblijf/KDV) experience more stimulation during their toddler years than children raised at home. They work with materials aimed at logical thinking, spatial awareness, and problem-solving abilities. A good daycare center offers structured activities that align with the developmental stage, without becoming school-like in character.
This early exposure to structured learning means children in Year 1 pick up the basics of reading and math more quickly. They're accustomed to following instructions, working in short time blocks, and receiving feedback from an adult who isn't their parent. The latter is subtle but relevant: children learn that different adults have different expectations, a skill that proves immediately useful at school.
Language Development: Why Starting Early Pays Off
Language is the foundation upon which all later school performance rests. At a daycare center (kinderdagverblijf/KDV), there is generally more and more varied conversation than in an average household, especially when multiple children are in the group. Pedagogical staff are trained in language stimulation: they repeat what children say, expand sentences, and introduce new words in a meaningful context.
For children who speak a language other than Dutch at home, this can be a crucial supplement. They hear Dutch in a playful, low-threshold setting without the pressure of performance. Research by the SCP (Netherlands Institute for Social Research) and various universities confirms that children who start childcare early score higher on school-entry skills in receptive and productive language proficiency. Want to learn more about how childcare specifically supports language development? Read our article on language development and childcare.
How Does Childcare Affect Your Child's Social-Emotional Skills?
School performance is more than grades. A child who can cooperate well, recognize emotions, and deal with setbacks will benefit more from these skills in the long term than from a head start in math. Childcare offers a unique practice environment: a group of peers, supervised by a professional adult who doesn't avoid conflicts but turns them into learning moments.
The effects in the social-emotional domain are generally positive, but here the quality argument is even stronger. In a group with too few staff, too much turnover, or unclear pedagogical policy, children may actually experience stress. This affects their ability to learn and form relationships.
Cooperating, Sharing, and Resolving Conflicts
At a daycare center (kinderdagverblijf/KDV), a child must learn to wait their turn, share a toy they don't want to give up, and deal with a groupmate who reacts differently than expected. These are not innate skills; they are built through repetition and guidance. An experienced pedagogical worker recognizes the moment when a child can find their own solution and when intervention is needed.
These experiences build a repertoire of social strategies that children take with them to primary school. They know how to approach a playmate, how to adapt to a group, and how to set their own boundaries. Research shows that children with these skills are less likely to be excluded and are more engaged in class activities.
The Role of ECE for Children Who Need Extra Support
Early Childhood Education (VVE) is aimed at children who, due to their home situation, have an increased risk of language or developmental delays. Not every daycare center (kinderdagverblijf/KDV) offers VVE; it requires a separate referral through the child health clinic (consultatiebureau) or the municipality. Children with a VVE indication receive extra structured activities in the areas of language, math, and social skills.
Evaluation research into VVE programs such as Piramide and Kaleidoscoop shows significant effects on school career outcomes. Children with a VVE indication who follow these programs are more likely to complete regular education without repeating a year and score better on standardized tests. Want to know how these programs work exactly? Check out our article about Piramide and Kaleidoscoop.
Why Is Quality Childcare Decisive for the Outcome?
The question is not so much whether childcare helps, but which childcare helps. Researchers distinguish between structural quality (what you can measure: group size, staff-to-child ratios, education level) and process quality (what you experience: the interaction between staff and child, the pedagogical climate, emotional safety). Both are necessary, but process quality proves to be the strongest predictor of developmental outcomes.
A daycare center (kinderdagverblijf/KDV) can score perfectly on paper and still not have the desired effect if daily interactions are distant or uninspired. Conversely, a small-scale childcare setting with fewer luxury facilities can achieve excellent results through the warmth and attention of the caregivers.
Staff-to-Child Ratio, Group Size, and What You Can Check Yourself
The staff-to-child ratio (BKR) is legally established: for babies aged 0-1, it's 1:3; for toddlers aged 2-3, it's 1:6. These ratios are minimum requirements; a location may have stricter ratios. During a tour, don't just ask about the legal ratio, but about the actual staffing on an average day. How many familiar faces will your child have? How is sick leave or holidays handled?
Also check the group size. A group of 16 toddlers feels different than two groups of 8, even with the same staff-to-child ratio. Look at the physical layout: are there quiet areas and active zones, or is it one large space where all stimuli overlap? And ask about the pedagogical policy plan: how are emotions, conflicts, and teaching independence handled?
How Do You Choose a Daycare Center That Supports the School Journey?
The transition from childcare to primary school is a major change. A good daycare center (kinderdagverblijf/KDV) prepares children for this without becoming school-like. When searching, look for signals that go beyond the brochure. Is there story time? Are there ongoing connections with nearby primary schools? Do they keep an observation file that you can take to the new school?
Ask concrete questions during a tour. What does a typical morning look like? How often do children change groups or caregivers? How is parent communication about development handled? A location that is transparent about this shows that they take your child's development seriously. Torn between multiple options? On Kiddie.nl, you can easily compare daycare centers on the factors that really matter for your child's school readiness.
Getting Started
The science is clear: childcare can make a significant contribution to your child's school development, especially in the areas of language, cognition, and social skills. But the effect depends on quality. Use your intuition and the available information. Check Municipal Health Service (GGD) reports, ask sharp questions during tours, and trust your observation of how staff interact with children. On Kiddie.nl, you'll find overviews of daycare centers in your area, including summaries of inspection reports so you can make a well-informed choice.