Once you've made a shortlist of childcare locations that look promising, you'll want to know how a location will interact with your child and what the atmosphere is like. To find out, you can review the pedagogical policy plan.
What is a pedagogical policy plan and why should you read it?
A pedagogical policy plan is the document in which a childcare provider describes how they guide children, which values they consider important, and how they put these into daily practice. It's not a vague mission statement, but a working document that directs the actions of childcare staff. The Childcare Quality Act (Wet IKK) requires every registered childcare provider to draw up and keep such a plan up to date.
As a parent, you read this plan to understand the choices a location makes. How do they handle a crying child? What role do parents play in communication? How do they work on social skills? Two locations may both promise a 'warm, safe environment,' but the policy plan shows how they fill this in concretely. It helps you compare and determine which pedagogical vision matches your parenting style and your child's needs.
Where do you find the pedagogical policy plan?
You don't need to go through a complicated procedure. At most daycare centers (kinderdagverblijf/KDV) and after-school care (BSO) locations, the plan is on the website, sometimes under 'for parents' or 'our vision.' Can't find it directly? Send an email or ask about it during a tour. A professional provider will share this without any issues.
Note: some locations work with a shorter version for parents and a more extensive version for internal use. Feel free to ask for the full document if you want to dig deeper. At childminder/host parent care (gastouderopvang) locations, the plan may be less extensive due to the small-scale nature, but here too you are entitled to ask about the pedagogical starting points. Take notes while reading so you can ask targeted questions when you visit the location.
What sections are in a good pedagogical policy plan?
A solid plan covers multiple themes. Not every document follows the same order, but these sections are usually addressed.
Vision on development and the image of the child
Here the provider describes how they view children. Do they see a child as a being that discovers and learns on its own, or as someone who needs more guidance? This image of the child influences everything: from how much freedom there is to how conflicts are guided. Some locations work with a specific educational approach, such as Montessori or Reggio Emilia. Others choose their own vision based on current insights from developmental psychology.
Check whether the plan refers to sensitive responsiveness: the ability of staff to adequately pick up on and respond to children's signals. This is a strong quality indicator, regardless of the chosen pedagogical approach. Read here more about sensitive responsiveness.
Daily routine and how boundaries are handled
A good plan makes the daily routine transparent. When is there rest, when activity? How flexible is this schedule? For babies, a predictable structure is important; older toddlers benefit from variety. The plan also describes the approach to boundary-crossing behavior. Are time-outs used, or rather co-regulation where the child learns to recognize their own emotions?
Ask yourself whether the routine fits your home situation. A child who goes to bed late at home may struggle with an early rest time at childcare. The plan gives insight into how such differences are accommodated.
Cooperation with parents and handover
How is communication with parents shaped? Some locations use a parent app, others have daily contact at pick-up. The plan also describes the frequency and content of parent meetings. More importantly: how are differences in parenting style handled? A professional provider respects the home situation and seeks connection, without imposing their own norms.
Check whether the plan explicitly states how parents are involved in policy. A parent committee or periodic satisfaction surveys are good signs that the location is open to feedback.
How do you check whether the pedagogical policy also works in practice?
A plan on paper doesn't tell the whole story. During a tour or trial day, observe whether the described vision is reflected in the staff's behavior. Are children addressed in the way the plan prescribes? Is the atmosphere consistent with what you expected based on the document?
The Municipal Health Service (GGD) inspection also assesses the pedagogical climate. In the inspection report, you'll find whether the location meets legal requirements and whether there are recommendations. This report is public and available through the National Childcare Register. A well-crafted plan combined with a positive GGD report gives more confidence than the plan alone.
Ask concrete questions during your visit. "I read in your policy plan that you work with positive reinforcement. What does that look like concretely during a fight over a toy?" A staff member who knows the plan and acts accordingly can answer this directly.
Get started
Request the pedagogical policy plan from the locations on your shortlist and read them side by side. Note per location what appeals to you and what questions it raises. Use these notes as a guide during tours. On kiddie.nl, you'll find registered childcare locations with their GGD reports, so you can easily combine policy plans and inspection findings into a well-considered choice.