Kindergarten education and kindergarten age.

Hooray! Your child is four years old and may go to primary school. The switch from day care or home life to school is often a big change for children and parents. What should you keep in mind and how does primary school actually work?

Rules and working methods at primary school

Each school has its own rules and working methods. About how people treat each other, for example, about moving up a grade or repeating it, or about the use of digital devices. These rules depend on the type of school, the neighborhood, and sometimes beliefs. You can find the rules in the school guide. Read them carefully before you start registering at a primary school to avoid unpleasant surprises now and in the future.

Snacks, lunch and treats

Some schools have rules about eating and drinking at school. For example, only fruit can be eaten or treats must be healthy. Most primary schools ask parents to send a snack, lunch, and drink daily. A snack can be a piece of fruit or raw vegetables. In the Netherlands, children usually eat a cold lunch at school, such as one or more sandwiches. Schools that call themselves a ‘healthy school’ often ask parents not to spread sweet toppings on sandwiches or give other sweets. This also applies to treats when a child is, for example, celebrating a birthday or saying goodbye.

Contact with the teacher

At home and through day care, you usually get a good idea of what your child does. At school you have less insight. You do not get a detailed daily report at school. You can expect the school to inform you about important matters. For example, if there has been a big fight or if your child has fallen.

From the toddler class, children are expected to tell about their day themselves. Do you want more clarity about an event at school? Ask the teacher. Also ask about a parent app where you can send messages or ask questions to the teacher.

The school’s parent app

Most schools use a parent app, such as Social Schools, Parro, Klasbord, or Quebble. Teachers and principals use it to keep you informed about what happens at school and in the class. Make sure you have downloaded your school’s parent app before the first school day. This helps you avoid missing important dates and information. Some schools send a weekly newsletter through the app or share photos and videos of recent school activities.

Through the parent app, you can usually send messages to teachers, other parents, or respond to posts from school staff. Sometimes the teacher may invite you to report meetings or other activities via the app.

WhatsApp group with parents

Besides the official parent app, some classes or parents create a separate WhatsApp group for parents, usually without the teachers. For example, to arrange a gift on behalf of the class at the end of the school year or to find where your child’s jacket, gym shoes, or friends book has gone. You can decide yourself if you want to join.

Play dates

Does your child have one or more friends they like to play with at school? They might want to play after school too. After school, the school is no longer responsible for your child’s safety.

What to consider with play dates?

• Exchange contact details with the other parent(s). If your child or your visitor needs to be picked up earlier, it is helpful to call. The parent app mentioned earlier can also be a good way to contact parents of a friend.
• Inform about allergies or other medical issues to the parent where your child will play. If the play date is at your house, ask the other parent for this information.
• Agree on what time the play date will end. This prevents disappointment for both sides.
• The first few times playing, it might be necessary that you stay nearby. It may be the first time your child is at an unknown family’s home. A familiar face checking in now and then feels reassuring.

Let your child arrange play dates as much as possible. This helps your child to become independent and build self-confidence.

Parent involvement

The primary school asks for some parent involvement, such as attending children’s presentations, joining school trips, or sending craft supplies. In higher grades, you help your child with reading and other homework. Good cooperation has a positive effect on how your child learns.

You can also choose to be more officially involved and become part of the school participation council or the parent council at school. Some parents are class parents and regularly help the teacher with small tasks. At schools with lunch break care, there are sometimes volunteer lunch supervisors who watch the children during the lunch break at school.

School costs

The government in the Netherlands pays the basic and secondary school costs for children. So you have no mandatory costs to the school itself. Everything your child needs for learning must be paid by the school. However, items like a backpack, gym clothes, or a drinking cup are the parents’ responsibility. Primary schools also ask for a voluntary parent contribution to use for things like fun trips or activities with the children.

Toetsen en voortgang

Schools decide how they track the progress of their pupils. This can be done by observation, tests, or other ways. This can happen individually or in a class. The way of testing depends on what is tested and sometimes it is adjusted to your child’s needs. From group three, teachers usually test regularly. Sometimes this also happens in the kindergarten class.

The teacher must track your child’s progress in a student monitoring system.

Parent talks and reports

Many schools have fixed moments in the year to plan parent talks. These are short talks, often 10 minutes. The teacher discusses your child’s report or portfolio. These talks can be with or without your child. The teacher will let you know. Do you have questions about the report? Make a list before, so you do not forget anything during the talk.

Schools must tell parents how their child is doing at school. They decide how and how many reports to give to parents each year.

Extra support

If the school notices your child needs extra support in development, the school must tell you. The school must support your child in their needs. If the school or you as a parent find that your child cannot get the right support at the current school, then the school has a duty of care. This means the school must ask for outside help or arrange a transfer to a suitable school.

The school team

In primary school, you have the most contact with your child’s teachers. But behind them is a team of staff outside the class who also help with your child’s development. Think of the school director, the teaching assistant, the internal support coordinator, and the trusted person.

Questions or personal advice?

Do you have questions about this topic, would you like advice regarding your situation, or just a listening ear? Then please contact us via 088-6050101, email vraag@oudersenonderwijs.nl or WhatsApp ons.