You're looking for a childcare setting that offers personal attention for your child. In your search, you'll quickly come across terms like small-scale childcare and small groups. They may seem interchangeable, but they actually describe two different things. In this article, we explain the distinction and tell you what to look out for.
The difference between small-scale childcare and small groups
Both terms relate to the size of a childcare setting, but they refer to different levels. Small-scale childcare is about the organisation as a whole: how large is the location, how many children attend each day, and how many staff members work there? Small groups refer to what happens at group level: how many children are together in one room, and how many carers are with them?
A large childcare organisation with dozens of children can still work with small groups. And a small-scale daycare center (kinderdagverblijf/KDV) can still have larger groups. These are two separate choices you can consciously make as a parent.
Small-scale childcare
Small-scale childcare refers to the overall size of the location. Think of a daycare center with one or two groups, a limited number of regular staff members, and a manageable environment where everyone knows each other. Childminder/host parent care (gastouderopvang) is the most small-scale example: one host parent looks after a maximum of six children at a time, including their own children.
The advantage of small-scale care lies in familiarity. Children see the same faces, parents speak to the same staff members, and the threshold for raising concerns is lower. At the same time, small-scale also means fewer colleagues to cover tasks during illness or leave, which can sometimes affect continuity.
Childcare with small groups
Small groups refer to how many children are together in one room at the same time. This has a direct impact on noise levels, the atmosphere within the group, and the amount of attention a carer can give to each individual child. A group of eight toddlers feels very different from a group of sixteen, even if the staff-to-child ratio is the same in both cases.
Some daycare centers deliberately work with smaller groups than the law requires, as part of their educational philosophy. This is an active choice that you'll find reflected in their pedagogical policy document. It's therefore worth asking about this specifically, rather than relying solely on the general description on their website.
What does the law say?
Dutch law sets minimum requirements for both the staff-to-child ratio and group sizes. These requirements are set out in the Innovation and Quality in Childcare Act (Wet Innovatie en Kwaliteit Kinderopvang/Wet IKK) and are checked annually by the Municipal Health Service (GGD). What the law prescribes is a minimum standard, not an ideal.
The staff-to-child ratio explained by age group
The staff-to-child ratio (beroepskracht-kindratio/BKR) determines how many children may be present per staff member. For daycare centers, the following ratios apply: for babies aged 0 to 1, it is 1 staff member to 3 children; for children aged 1 to 2, it is 1 to 5; and for children aged 2 to 4, it is 1 to 8. For after-school care (BSO), the ratio is 1 to 10.
A small-scale childcare setting or small group therefore says nothing in itself about the personal attention your child receives, or the number of staff in the room — this is set by law, though these ratios represent the legal minimum. A daycare center that operates with a better ratio does so deliberately and often as part of its quality policy. Read more about the BKR and what it means in practice here.
Group sizes per type of childcare
In addition to the BKR, the law also sets requirements for maximum group sizes. At a daycare center, a base group may consist of a maximum of 16 children. For after-school care, the limit is higher. With childminder care, the maximum is six children at a time, including the host parent's own children.
There is also a space requirement: every child is entitled to a minimum of 3.5 m² of indoor play space and 3 m² of outdoor play space. If a location cannot meet these conditions, the GGD will not grant permission to take on more children.
Large organisations are still bound by these maximum group sizes and minimum space requirements. They simply have multiple groups running side by side, each with their own dedicated staff. The advantage is that larger organisations have more flexibility to rearrange cover in cases of illness or staff shortages.
Small-scale childcare and small groups in practice
In practice, parents often search based on feeling: a calm atmosphere, familiar faces, and the reassurance that their child won't get lost in the crowd. And that's a completely valid instinct. Children benefit from personal attention, from childcare professionals who can respond to their individual needs, and from seeing the same faces every day.
In practice, however, there is little variation between locations in the number of childcare professionals per child, largely because the sector continues to face a staffing shortage. The legal minimum often turns out to be the practical maximum as well. Maximum group sizes are also fixed, though some locations do choose to work with smaller groups. A larger location may have more groups in the same building, but these children are not all in the same room.
With childminder care, small-scale is built in by definition: care takes place at home, in a homely environment, with one trusted and consistent adult. This makes it an appealing choice for parents who value continuity and calm — especially for young children. Read more about the benefits of a host parent at home.
Questions to ask during your visit
A visit to a childcare location is your opportunity to check whether what they promise actually holds up in practice. Do they have a stable team, or has there been a lot of staff turnover in the past year? How large are the groups, and are they kept separate? Do they share an outdoor area, and how does that work in practice?
Also ask about the daily schedule: how much time do children spend outside, how are quiet and active moments balanced, and how large is the group during busy times like drop-off and pick-up? These are exactly the moments when you can see for yourself what the atmosphere is really like.
Finally, ask to see the most recent GGD inspection report. This shows whether the location meets the legal requirements around group sizes, the staff-to-child ratio, and safety standards. A location that is proud of its quality will be happy to share it. Here's how to read a GGD inspection report the right way.
Ready to start your search?
Now that you know the difference between small-scale childcare and small groups, you can search with more focus. Think about what matters most for your child: the overall size of the location, the group size, or the educational approach that goes with it. On Kiddie.nl, you can compare daycare centers, after-school care locations, and childminders in your area — including GGD reports and location details — so you can make your choice with confidence.
