Kindcentrum de Kwikstaart

Kindcentrum de Kwikstaart is located at De Kempenaerstraat 2 in Gouda Noord and is part of Stichting Quadrant, a non-profit organisation that has been providing childcare in Gouda and the surrounding area for more than twenty years. Everything we do is based on collaboration: with parents, with children and with the community. Our motto is ‘together for the child’. Our day-care centre has one vertical group for children aged 0 to 4. This setup gives the youngest children the calm and security they need, while older toddlers learn from the presence of babies and infants. We share the building with a pre-school playgroup and an after-school care facility, creating a pleasant, homely dynamic. The older children in the day-care centre regularly meet the toddlers from the playgroup; they learn from each other and grow up in an environment where different ages come together. De Kwikstaart’s rooms are bright, modern and tailored to the age group. There are play dens and a play house where children can withdraw, and a separate play/nature strip especially for the very youngest and toddlers. Around the building is a challenging outdoor area with a beautiful playground. We pay extra attention to sustainability, both in the furnishings and in the activities we offer. We work with sustainable materials and regularly organise activities in which children learn about the environment in a playful way. Our pedagogical staff follow Quadrant’s development-oriented policy. Every child is unique and is given the space to develop at his or her own pace. We offer creative, educational and playful activities that connect with the world of experience of young children – think of singing, reading aloud, playing with natural materials and discovering in the garden. We use Early Childhood Education (ECE) to give extra stimulation to language, numeracy and social skills. The ECE programme is designed to prepare children well for the transition to primary school. Each day starts calmly between 07:30 and 09:30. We talk to parents about how the night went and tailor care to the child’s needs. At around 09:30 we eat fresh fruit; babies have their fruit purée and then go to bed. Between 10:30 and 11:30 it is time for outdoor play or, in bad weather, an indoor activity. At around 11:30 we eat a healthy sandwich with self-chosen toppings together. In the afternoon there is rest and most children sleep. Those who stay awake play in the corridor, read a book or do an activity with a member of staff. At around 15:00 a healthy snack with vegetables and a cracker is ready. Then we go outside again until parents pick up their child between 17:00 and 18:30. We keep parents informed via our Parent app so they can follow their child’s experiences every day. At Kindcentrum de Kwikstaart we believe it is important that children feel both safe and challenged. We provide a warm, homely environment with room for children’s own initiative as well as structured activities. We work with familiar faces so that children and parents build a trusting relationship with our pedagogical staff. Together we ensure that every child can develop optimally and enjoys coming to De Kwikstaart.