Parents' committee

Childcare centres, childminding agencies and playgroups in the Netherlands must have a parents' committee. In the case of childcare centres and playgroups, each location must have a parents' committee. The committee advises on the quality of childcare. You may disregard the advice of the parents’ committee if it is in the interest of childcare. However, you must provide the parents' committee with a written explanation of your decision.

Parents' committee's rights

At least once a year you must discuss your childcare organisation's pedagogical policy with the parents' committee. Additionally, you must provide the committee with information about the quality and financial situation of your organisation. Parents may also call you to account for any problems. They can file a complaint with the Childcare Disputes Committee.

Parents' committee's regulations

You must adopt the parent committee regulations within six months of submitting an application to be included in the National Childcare and Playgroup Register (Landelijk Register Kinderopvang en peuterspeelzalen, LRKp) to your municipal authority. You draw up these regulations at your own discretion. You can use model regulations from the Childcare Parents Representation Organisation (Belangenvereniging van Ouders in de Kinderopvang & Peuterspeelzalen (BOinK)). The regulations must at least specify the following subjects:

• The number of members in the parents' committee.
• How members are elected.
• The members' term of office.

An amendment of the regulations will require the permission of the parents' committee.