De Paddestoel

Welcome to De Paddestoel, our small-scale toddler care centre located inside the De Zandkampen community school in Zaltbommel. We offer children aged 2 to 4 a familiar place to play, discover and grow together with peers. Our space is on the ground floor of the school, allowing children to become accustomed to the school environment at an early age and making the transition to primary school feel natural. Each morning begins with a warm welcome and a shared moment. Children can choose from different corners: in the construction corner they build tall castles, in the arts corner they create colourful paintings, and in the home corner they experiment with real household items. “Come on, let’s go cycling!” the children shout enthusiastically as they ride around on their tricycles. We work with playful themes that perfectly match toddlers’ world of experience, such as animals, seasons and transportation. There is always room for movement outdoors. We have our own playground with a sandbox, slide and climbing equipment. Rain, snow or sunshine: every day we spend time in the fresh air. We regularly visit the petting zoo or the playground nearby. Children feed the goats, watch the chickens and learn about animals and nature in a playful way. Language development is central to our approach. We sing songs, tell stories and use the VVE programme specially developed for toddlers. Our pedagogical staff consciously speak Dutch with the children and encourage them to discover and use new words. Through games and interaction, children naturally learn language skills that prepare them well for primary school. We work with a fixed group of children and a permanent team. This provides stability and familiarity. Parents receive daily photos and messages through our own app, so they can share in their child’s experiences. Together we ensure that every child feels safe, seen and valued at De Paddestoel.