Happy with you!
This is the slogan of this third quarter. Because without our pedagogical employees, Op Stoom would be nothing and there would be no childcare at all. This is painfully felt in the whole country at the moment. With the current shortage of pedagogical staff, working Netherlands is in serious trouble. There's a lot of ground to cover in this topic.
In the meantime, we all continue to roll up our sleeves to keep daycare open for your child. 'Happy with you' also applies to all our staff members who provide structural assistance to the group, are looking for new staff and who arrange all behind the scenes to be able to continue to offer quality.
Together we try to prevent the staff shortage from swallowing us up completely, because there is so much more happening behind the scenes…
About the toys…
Twice a year Op Stoom locations shops in our own little webshop. The store is open in March and September and our staff carefully select toys that match your child(ren) in the group. Often the research is also done together with the children.
The webshop has been carefully built up over the years. Before the toys are added to the shop, they are tested by our little experts. In one or more selected groups, children show us whether the toys are played a lot and – not unimportantly – whether they can take some rough play. This is because high-quality toys are important to us. We also regularly receive tips for new toys from employees or older children. We then add these to the webshop.
Our 'toy shop' is therefore completely Op Stoom-proof. Another advantage of having our own webshop is that we have a uniform appearance for all groups in terms of play materials, but the pedagogical employees are free to choose their own toys within this range of Op Stoom approved toys.
Toys meets CSR
The final toy order is made as much as possible in collaboration with local entrepreneurs. This also applies to many of our consumers. We also find it important that toys are not made by children elsewhere in the world. That is why several colleagues recently attended a Webinar about child labour. This was organized by MKB & VNO-NCW, in collaboration with the Childcare Branch. SMEs will compile a 'green list' for childcare organizations with suppliers that consciously take children's rights into account. Our aim is that our purchases are produced without child labour.
Adjusted terms and condition
The general terms and conditions of Op Stoom will be adjusted as of November 1st. The adjustment was necessary because the policy on the use of credit points has changed. This policy change took effect on June 1st 2022 and was discussed with the parent committees prior to April 20th 2022.
Credit points
Since June, after covid, it has been possible to request extra care days again and things are running smoothly. It is often good news when something is "blowing up" but in the case of the credit points it is a bit more complex. So a little (perhaps clarifying) explanation about this.
At Op Stoom, the Planning department receives more than 100 requests for childcare every day at a time other than the usual contract days. Sometimes there is room, sometimes it is not possible to approve your application immediately. Then we will put your application on a list. We check that list every day and then check the options. This depends on the occupation in the group, the number of employees and the group composition according to the age of the children. These are all requirements from the Childcare Act that we must meet.
Due to full groups and staff shortages, it is often not possible to meet your wishes.
If a place does become available, we usually only know at the very last minute: the day before or even on the requested day of care. As long as you have not yet received approval in the Op Stoom app, there is no room. As much as we would like to, we cannot answer questions about the status of an application, either by telephone or by email. Simply because of the workload at our Planning department. So keep an eye on your app.
You can always cancel the requested day in the app, because we understand that you are also looking for alternative solutions in the 'meantime'. The credit points are then added back to your balance. We hope for your understanding and it's good to emphasize: credit points are an extra service that we offer and not a service.
As happy as a child
We work together at Op Stoom to make a difference for the children. Even in less stable times like these, we roll up our sleeves every day, do our best and have fun. We contribute to their development and create a nice and fun day, every day for your baby, toddler or primary school-goer. You can go to work with peace of mind and we would also like to hear from you if there is something we can improve.
Satisfied?
Whether your child has just joined Op Stoom or has been with us for a number of years, we would like to know what we are doing well and what could be done even better. We need your input for that. That is why we will be sending out our customer satisfaction surveys this autumn. You will receive more information about this through the parent app.
Facts & Figures
That was it, the summer of 2022
From building huts, running, and baking delicious mud pies in the mud kitchens, this summer we could be found at various events in and around Haarlem. Besides the fact that being part of an event is really cool, we also hope to inspire lateral entrants to come and work in childcare. So this is a win win!