Brancheorganisatie Kinderopvang is hosting the webinar "Starting with Preschool Education (VE)" on Monday 22 June 2026. The online event is specifically designed for childcare organizations considering offering preschool education but unsure exactly where to begin.
What is preschool education?
Preschool education (voorschoolse educatie/VE) is a programme for children aged 2.5 to 4 years focused on the early detection and addressing of developmental delays. Children with language or developmental delays, or whose parents have a low level of education, are eligible for VE. The programmes are delivered by accredited childcare organizations and toddler playgroups (peuterspeelzalen) and funded by municipalities.
Participating organizations work with proven methods such as Piramide, Kaleidoscoop, or Startblokken. The government promotes VE because early support structurally improves children's school careers. Since the Childcare Act and the Primary Education Act were merged into the Childcare and Education Act (Wet kinderopvang en onderwijs/Wko), cooperation between childcare and primary schools has been strengthened.
Practical information
The industry association has not yet published a detailed programme, but its webinars typically address both strategic and practical aspects. These include:
- The application procedure for recognition as a VE provider
- Cooperation with municipalities and schools
- Quality requirements and pedagogical accountability
- Financial aspects and funding
Brancheorganisatie Kinderopvang is the leading industry association for childcare in the Netherlands and regularly organizes events for professionals in the sector.
What does this mean for parents?
For parents, the expansion of preschool education is positive news. The more childcare locations offering VE, the greater the chance that your child can access it if needed.
Has your toddler (2.5-4 years) grown up in an environment where a language other than Dutch is mainly spoken? Or does your child have a suspected language or developmental delay? You can inquire about the options with your municipality or childcare organization. VE is offered free of charge on top of regular childcare hours.
The webinar itself is intended for professionals, but parents can initiate conversations with their childcare provider: does the location already offer VE, and if not, are there plans to do so? An active approach helps ensure the best support for your child.
More information about the webinar can be found via Brancheorganisatie Kinderopvang.