The Flemish government is investing an extra 200 million euros to create 10,000 additional childcare places. Of those places, 6,000 must be income-related: the cost will depend on the parents’ income.
In addition to the new defence plan, the Flemish government also gave the go-ahead to the childcare plan of welfare minister Caroline Gennez at a marathon meeting on Friday.
Flanders provides funding for 10,000 additional places. Of those places, 6,000 must be income-related, the cost will therefore depend on parents’ income. Priority will be given to the creation of places in regions where the shortage is greatest.
There will also be measures at the staff level. According to the minister, by focusing on income-related care, staff will also benefit from better pay and working conditions. Furthermore, the status of childminders will be reformed into an employee status. Minister Gennez also wants to work on attracting lateral entrants and a new degree course for childcare workers.
Also important for staff is the reduction of the child-staff ratios. Instead of the current ratio of 1 to 8, from 2027 that ratio will go to a ratio of 1 to 5 for groups with babies up to one year old, 1 to 7 for mixed groups and 1 to 8 in groups with children of at least one year old. “This means a lower workload which makes the job more attractive again,” Gennez said.
