All pre-schoolers should go to daycare: ministry

Toddler girl playing with toysThe social affairs ministry has set aside €60m to ensure all toddlers spend time twice a week in daycare centres, whether their parents have a job or not, RTL news reports.

The broadcaster bases its claims on sources in The Hague. The measures are to be included in the government’s 2016 spending plans which will be formally published later this month.

The plan would entail all toddlers aged 2.5 to four spending 2.5 hours twice a week in daycare before starting formal schooling. Around 10,000 young children have never experienced any form of care before going to school.

The Dutch primary school council is enthusiastic about the idea, RTL says. ‘This would be a very good initiative and something we have asked for for years,’ chairman Rinda den Besten said on Twitter.

The Dutch local authorities’ association told news agency ANP the measure would enable all children to start school on an equal footing.

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