The BKR, or beroepskracht-kindratio (staff-child ratio), determines how many children one childcare professional may supervise at the same time. As a parent, you want to know whether your child is getting enough attention — and that's exactly what this article is about. We'll explain what the rules are, why they exist, and how you can check whether a childcare provider is following them.
What is the BKR in childcare and why does it exist?
The beroepskracht-kindratio (BKR) is a legally established standard that specifies how many children one childcare professional may supervise at the same time. This standard is included in the Childcare Innovation and Quality Act (Wet Innovatie en Kwaliteit Kinderopvang/Wet IKK) and is checked annually by the Municipal Health Service (GGD). It's not an arbitrary number: the BKR is based on research into what children need to feel safe, seen, and stimulated.
A childcare professional who is responsible for too many children at once simply doesn't have the hands and eyes free to give each child the attention they deserve. Imagine a crying baby who needs comforting, while two toddlers are fighting over a toy car. The BKR ensures that situations like these remain manageable and that the safety and quality of childcare are guaranteed. For you as a parent, it's therefore one of the most important quality indicators to look out for when choosing childcare — and it's legally enshrined.
Why group size directly affects your child's development
Smaller groups and a favorable ratio mean more eye contact, more conversations, and more individual attention. Especially in the early years, this is crucial: children learn language, social skills, and emotional regulation largely through interaction with adults. Research consistently shows that children in groups with a good staff-child ratio score better on language development and wellbeing. So it's not just a safety issue — it directly affects your child's development.
What are the legal BKR standards by age in 2026?
The standards differ by age category. Younger children need more direct supervision. The younger the child, the lower the number of children per childcare professional.
BKR at the daycare center: from baby to toddler
At the daycare center (kinderdagverblijf/KDV), the following legal ratios apply for horizontal groups:
- 0 to 1 year: 1 staff member for a maximum of 3 children
- 1 to 2 years: 1 staff member for a maximum of 5 children
- 2 to 4 years: 1 staff member for a maximum of 8 children
For vertical groups, where children of different ages are together, the BKR is calculated based on the composition of the group. Feel free to ask during a tour how the group is composed and how many staff members are present on an average day. This gives you a more realistic picture than the paper standard alone. Want to know more about the difference between small-scale childcare and small groups? Read our article about small-scale childcare versus small groups.
BKR at after-school care: 4 to 12 years
- 4 to 6 years: 1 staff member for a maximum of 10 children
- 7+ years: 1 staff member for a maximum of 12 children
For after-school care (BSO), a more generous ratio applies. Children at BSO are older and more independent, which justifies this ratio. Still, the ratio doesn't tell the whole story here either: a group of 10 children in a large space with lots of activities requires different supervision than a quiet group of 6. When visiting a BSO, pay attention to how the space is laid out, how many children are present at the same time, and whether there are enough supervisors to also give individual attention.
Can a childcare provider temporarily deviate from the BKR?
Yes, but under strict conditions. The law allows a daycare center or BSO to deviate from the BKR for a maximum of 3 hours per day, provided this is documented in writing in the policy and parents have been informed. This is called a structural deviation. Think of situations where fewer children are present during quiet afternoon hours or at the end of the day, and staffing is adjusted accordingly.
In addition, there is the possibility of an incidental deviation, for example due to unexpected staff absence. Rules also apply here: the childcare provider must demonstrate that they have done everything possible to arrange replacement. The GGD checks whether a location handles this carefully.
What can you as a parent look out for?
You can also check the BKR yourself. The Dutch government website features a calculation tool that lets you check how many staff members must be present at minimum for a particular group composition. Useful if you want to verify whether what you see during a tour matches the legal standard. Also ask the location directly: how many children are in my child's group, and how many staff members are present then? A good childcare provider will answer this without hesitation.
Also check the GGD inspection reports to see whether the BKR has been a point of attention in the past. On Kiddie.nl, you'll find a summary of recent inspection reports per location, as well as the full reports. Want to know how to read such a report and what signals to look for? Check out our guide on reading the GGD inspection report. Here you'll read whether the childcare provider meets all legal requirements, including the BKR.
Additional legal requirements for staff
The BKR says something about the number of supervisors, but not about their qualifications. Separate requirements apply for that. Every staff member in childcare must be registered in the Childcare Personnel Register, which is part of the National Childcare Register (Landelijk Register Kinderopvang/LRK). This register shows whether someone has completed the required training and whether a valid Certificate of Conduct (Verklaring Omtrent het Gedrag/VOG) has been issued. Parents and supervisors can use this platform to check whether everything is being done according to the rules. The GGD checks at every inspection whether the registrations are correct and whether any staff members are working without valid documents.
BKR in combination with other quality requirements
The staff-child ratio does not stand alone. Together with rules such as the fixed faces criterion (consistent caregivers for your child), the four-eyes principle, and the basic pedagogical goals, the BKR forms the foundation of childcare quality in the Netherlands. These rules together ensure that your child is not only safe, but can also build a trusting relationship with the childcare professionals. Want a complete picture of all safety aspects? Then read our article on assessing safety in 5 concrete steps.