Below are the most frequently asked questions from childcare organisations and parents.
Childcare organisations
Childcare agreements, attendance lists, invoices, proof of payment of the parental contributions and deregistration certificates must be retained for five years after the documents are no longer up to date.
You can submit changes relating to the quarter until the end of that quarter at the latest. Are you only reporting the change in the next quarter? In that case, you no longer receive childcare compensation for the past quarter.
Add the new childcare agreement to the application form you submitted and resend the form. Do this before the end of the quarter at the latest.
Notify this change immediately via the application form by adjusting / adding the end date and resend the form. You are entitled to the childcare compensation until the last day of the month in which the childcare ends.
Yes, in that case there are two options:
- If the Public Entity advised, in the interests of the child, that the child is eligible for childcare compensation, you can apply for childcare compensation for the child.
- If the child is not registered and the Public Entity did not advise that the child is eligible for childcare compensation, you charge the full cost of childcare to the parent(s) of the child. The amount you charge must be at least equal to the childcare compensation. In that case, you should not include the child in the application for childcare compensation submitted to the SZW Unit of RCN.
Yes, in that case there are two options:
- If the Public Entity advised, in the interests of the child, that the child is eligible for childcare compensation, you can apply for childcare compensation for the child.
- If the child is not registered and the Public Entity did not advise that the child is eligible for childcare compensation, you charge the full cost of childcare to the parent(s) of the child. The amount you charge must be at least equal to the childcare compensation. In that case, you should not include the child in the application for childcare compensation submitted to the SZW Unit of RCN.
If the childcare agreement states that the parents make use of additional childcare during school holidays, you receive additional childcare compensation for the extra day parts. You can indicate on the application form for each child whether they are attending an extra day part in the morning. You then receive the additional compensation automatically.
You cannot charge parents an additional contribution on top of the maximum parental contribution. If a child attends extra day parts during school holidays and on other non-school days, you will receive additional childcare compensation for these extra day parts. You can indicate on the application form for each child whether they use an extra day part in the morning. You then receive the extra compensation automatically.
If the child lives with their grandparents on a permanent basis, this is considered foster care. In that case, the childcare agreement must be concluded with the grandparents, and they are required to be registered.
The BES Childcare Act states that parents have a joint entitlement to (almost) free childcare. The details of both parents must be provided if the parents are married or registered partners, live at the same address, and both contribute to the household. This also applies if one of the parents is not the biological parent, but the step-parent or foster parent.
As under the temporary subsidy scheme, the childcare compensation will continue to be paid during a 15 days closure. You must specify on your application form when the childcare facility is closed.
Parents
You can apply for a childcare place subsidy (so that you pay less or no parental contribution) with the Public Entity:
- On Bonaire: Directie Samenleving en Zorg (Kaya Neerlandia 41)
- On St. Eustatius: Social Support Unit
- On Saba: Community Development & Culture Department
If a childcare centre refuses a child or terminates the agreement, the parent can contact the following for advice and mediation:
- On Bonaire: Sentro Akseso (717 7300)
- On St. Eustatius: the Public Entity, the Social Domain Directorate
- On Saba: the Public Entity, the Community Development & Culture Department
If the child lives with their grandparents on a permanent basis, this is considered foster care. In that case, the childcare agreement must be concluded with the grandparents, and they are required to be registered.
If your child also attends out-of-school care in the morning during school holidays and on other non-school days, you do not have to pay extra. Your childcare centre receives additional funding from the government for these extra day parts in the morning if the extra care is also specified in the childcare agreement.