News item | 27-11-2025 | 15:31
State Secretary Jurgen Nobel (Participation and Integration) has come up with 5 measures to reduce the regulatory burden in childcare, while maintaining quality and safety. He already came up with adjustments for childcare earlier this year. The State Secretary is thus responding to a motion from the House of Representatives. This includes a structural expansion of the deployment of professionals in training.
Since 2022, daycare centers and after-school care centers have been allowed to deploy 50% of their workforce in training to the group. Previously this was 33%. This temporary measure has been taken to reduce the workload and staff shortages in childcare. The State Secretary wants to make the extension, which runs until July 1, 2026, permanent. There are still labor shortages and it is expected that the shortage will continue for the time being. The extension gives childcare organizations flexibility during breaks or in the event of staff illness. This means they don’t have to close groups as often. The State Secretary asks childcare organizations to pay sufficient attention to the guidance of professionals in training and to make careful considerations about their deployment. He will discuss with the sector how any concerns surrounding the deployment of professionals in training can be addressed.
Another measure that Nobel is preparing is to scrap the rule that out-of-school care centers must accommodate children in a basic group. He examines how the original purpose of this rule can be achieved while maintaining quality. He also wants to provide daycare centers with clarity about the obligations surrounding mentorship and about caring for children in a second group. Finally, he wants to reduce the regulatory burden when deploying pedagogical policy officers. To adjust or delete these rules, legislation and regulations must first be changed.
Rules not always clear
The State Secretary is also committed to better communication with childcare organizations about applicable regulations. There is now regular uncertainty about this, which creates the impression that there are unnecessary rules in childcare. Clarity about this makes childcare more attractive for entrepreneurs and pedagogical professionals.