Dutch government plans closer support for young children and families

The Dutch government plans to strengthen cooperation between schools, childcare providers, health services and local authorities to support children from birth to the start of primary school. It says the changes are intended to help children develop well and ensure support reaches families earlier when needed.

Four ministers and state secretaries set out the proposals in a letter to parliament. The government says parents and carers remain primarily responsible for children’s development, while public services should work together more effectively and remove barriers to help.

One proposal is to examine how child health clinics, childcare providers and schools could share information about a child’s wider development, so that additional support can be offered early. The government also plans to allow toddlers and nursery-age children temporarily to spend time together during school hours, which it says could support development and ease the move from childcare to school.

The plans include extending the Kansrijke Start programme, which brings together municipalities, health and maternity services and libraries to support families at home. The government aims to roll it out nationwide by 2030. The programme includes preparing young women who become pregnant for parenthood and identifying and addressing problems in families early.

The government also wants to simplify childcare funding and, over time, combine child benefit and the child-related budget into one scheme. It says it is working towards ending childcare allowance in 2029, while making childcare more affordable each year for working parents. Local authority teams are also expected to agree ways of working with schools and childcare providers, so families can access support close to home.