On Tuesday the 23rd of April, the Second Chamber voted positively on the law proposal Childcare BES. In this law proposal, the basic rules are laid down for the quality, supervision and financing of childcare on Bonaire, Saba and St. Eustatius. In the Spring Memorandum, the cabinet also reserved about 8 million euro per year … Read more
k-Dushi
In honour of the five-year anniversary of the BES(t) 4 kids programme, the programme is publishing the magazine ‘The best of BES(t) 4 kids’. This magazine looks back on five years of building together to improve childcare in the Caribbean Netherlands. The magazine contains open-hearted interviews with stakeholders from Bonaire, Saba, St. Eustatius and the … Read more
In order to ensure that the future childcare compensation is realistic and organizations can continue to provide good childcare, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment (SZW) commissioned a study into the costs of childcare in the Caribbean Netherlands. Based on this study, the research agency Amsterdam Bureau for Economics (EBA) gives an advice about … Read more
On Monday, October the 16th, the BES(t) 4 kids program on St. Eustatius pays special attention to all pedagogical staff in childcare. Their professional role is very important to ensure the quality of daycare and out-of-school programs. They take care of children during the time parents are at work. With them in the childcare centers … Read more
On Wednesday, September 20th, 2023, a festive kick-off took place at Posada Para Mira in Rincon for an exchange program that has been organised by BES(t) 4 kids for childcare organisations on Bonaire. The aim of the ‘twinning program’ is for organisations on Bonaire to exchange knowledge and experiences with organisations from the European Netherlands (and vice … Read more
On the 28th of June, 2023, the Public Entity of Bonaire and the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS) organised an information evening for the directors of childcare centres on Bonaire. They were informed about the compulsory Protection Code (Kodigo di Protekshon) that will come into effect in the Caribbean Netherlands as of the 1st of … Read more
On 25 May 2023, a ‘working party’ for pedagogical staff and managers in childcare took place on Bonaire. It was a day full of inspiring workshops and knowledge exchange, for example on dealing with children who stand out, observation, pedagogical use of space, playful math and reading and development of play. Managers could attend a … Read more
The twinning program initiated by BES(t) 4 kids between childcare organizations on St. Eustatius and Op Stoom from the Netherlands is evoking many positive reactions. Op Stoom demonstrates that an approach focusing on learning through play can make a big difference to children’s development. You can see the video on our BES(t) 4 kids Facebook … Read more
On Tuesday the 4th of April, the Inspectorate of Education published a report following the first measurement of childcare quality in the Caribbean Netherlands. The inspectorate visited all childcare organisations on Bonaire, Saba, and St. Eustatius in 2021 and 2022. This first round of inspections shows that the quality of childcare needs further improvement. It … Read more
On Wednesday, March 1st, 2023, at the Methodist Elma, Ms. Linda Blankhorst from Op Stoom (Netherlands) conducted a child observation workshop for all 7 childcare organizations on Sint Eustatius. This workshop was about observing the development of children in childcare to find out their physical, social, emotional, cognitive and creative development through play. Together, the … Read more