News item | 07-02-2024 | 12:00
As part of the broader approach to reducing staff shortages in childcare, it is ‘childcare development path‘ designed. The development path supports the step-by-step development of current and future group assistants. To help childcare organizations that deploy group helpers and offer room for growth, with the wage costs of group helpers, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment (SZW) has developed a temporary subsidy scheme.
The arrangement is now in place open for online consultation. Interested parties can respond to all parts until Wednesday, March 6, 2024.
Grant amount
The subsidy is a contribution to the wage costs of a group assistant, who is offered training through practical learning in secondary vocational education. The subsidy amount is calculated in proportion to the number of contract hours for group assistance, with a maximum of € 10,056. That amount is based on 40 percent of the full-time collective labor agreement salary of a group worker over an entire year. The total subsidy budget is distributed in proportion to the number of applications. If the number of applications is high, the maximum subsidy amount may therefore be lower.
Conditions for subsidy
To be eligible for a subsidy, childcare organizations must meet a number of conditions. These conditions are explained in more detail below.
- The subsidy application is made by the holder of a childcare organization with the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO).
- Subsidy can be applied for once a year during the month of November (in 2024, 2025 and 2026).
- A maximum of 1 application for 1 group assistance per holder per application period will be granted.
- The group helper must work at the childcare organization of the holder with an employment contract that is valid for at least 12 months (for sustainable commitment).
- In the context of developing group assistance, a subsidy application for a completed apprenticeship or practical apprenticeship must have been granted (via the Subsidy scheme for practical learning (BBL), or practical learning in the third learning path). The group helper has followed (part of) an MBO training course in practice, aimed at obtaining an MBO practical statement, MBO certificate or MBO diploma.
- Application for the subsidy will be possible for group helpers who started an apprenticeship or practical training position after August 1, 2023.
- A subsidy cannot be applied for if a contribution to the wage costs of group assistance is already being financed under another scheme. This does not apply to financing under the Practical Learning Subsidy Scheme (in the third learning path).
- The subsidy is intended for group assistance, not for the deployment of a professional in training, pedagogical employee in development or student employee.
- The subsidy can be awarded a maximum of once per individual group assistance.
Respond to the internet consultation until March 6, 2024
The Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment aims to have the subsidy scheme come into effect in April 2024.
For further explanationyou can consult the draft regulations and explanations online over the next four weeks.