Hundreds of extra children registered for free preschool

Over the last few months an extra 300 children registered for preschool in The Hague. Since the beginning of this year preschool is free for children who really need it. During preschool children between the ages of 2.5 and 4 years get prepared for primary school. They learn Dutch language skills and they learn to play with each other.

More than half of the children are developmentally behind when they start primary school. This can be seen in research by the municipality. Preschool helps make children ready for primary school. The Hague is the first big municipality to make preschool free for vulnerable children. In the areas of Laak and Zuidwest preschool is even free for all children. The municipality pays the costs for parents and eliminates the paperwork for them.

Preschool Open Day

Together with The Hague’s childcare organisations the municipality organises the Preschool Open Day 2 times a year. This is a day where parents can visit the city’s preschools. The following Preschool Open Day is on Wednesday, 25 September.

Preschool advisor

To make parents aware of how important preschool is, the preschool advisors have been working in the areas of Zuidwest, Laak and Transvaal. They are informing parents about preschool. The programme has been a success. Later this year the preschool advisors will also start working in a number of other neighbourhoods.

Also see: Preschool in The Hague