BSO Bijdehand

Welcome to BSO Bijdehand, located at Scheelenstraat 100 in the centre of Simpelveld. Our after-school care centre, officially named ‘de Klimpaal’, is part of Humankind, a nationwide organisation with more than a century of experience in childcare, education and youth care. We are open Monday to Friday from 07:30 to 18:30, during term time as well as in the school holidays. Every afternoon we welcome children from grade 3 to 8 of Basisschool de Meridiaan – and from several other primary schools in the area – for a safe, challenging and above all fun afternoon. We pick the children up directly from the school building, saving travel time and making the transition from school to after-school care seamless. Our qualified pedagogical staff are already waiting at the school gate and walk or cycle with the children to the BSO, which is situated in its own section of the school playground. Once inside, we start with a shared moment: time to chat about the day, enjoy a healthy snack and a drink. Afterwards the children decide for themselves what they would like to do. One day they might choose to romp around in our spacious garden with climbing frame, sandpit and sports field; another day they prefer to craft, draw or play a game in one of the creative corners indoors. We work thematically, so activities always connect to what fascinates the children – think nature walks, sports and games days or creating their own newspaper. Older children can quietly do their homework, while the younger ones relax with a book or a computer game. Our approach focuses on building children’s self-confidence and social skills. We offer a warm, homely atmosphere in which every child is seen and valued. Small groups and fixed pedagogical staff create trusted relationships. We also take different needs into account: from extra exercise to quiet moments, from creative challenges to technical experiments. In short, at BSO Bijdehand in Simpelveld children experience something new every afternoon and go home with a smile.