Bye Bye

Your child didn't noticed it and you probably didn't neither but the management team of Op Stoom has changed and constists of the two of us now. During the past years there have always been three of us but in March 2023 Gerda Laan ended her beautiful career . 15 Years Op Stoom flew by for Gerda. She is retiring as director, but fortunately remains connected to Op Stoom.

A sneak peak behind the scenes with Facts & figures but for the children Op Stoom as usual. Playing outside just muddling about and together with our new group helpers every day becomes a favorite day.

Kind Regards,
Renate & Linda

Praise for Gerda Laan

We are waving goodbye to Gerda Laan as director of Op Stoom and we continue with a two-headed board, one management team and 498 experts in the field of childcare. In March Gerda was celebrated and spoiled by many colleagues, with nice words and presents. Because she deserves this praise!

Let's start at the beginning
Gerda started in January 2008 as a BSO coordinator (now cluster manager) at BSO Rutherford in Haarlem. After years of being a school children's physiotherapist, this was a whole new career step. And off she went, leading a team of young eager employees. Bustling locations, super fun with the kids and yes her leadership was needed. With natural predominance and some life wisdom, Gerda was a natural; born leader.

Gerda fits Op Stoom nicely
A management colleague went on leave and Gerda took over the tasks. There was so much to do. New BSOs were booming, many schools were interested in after school care in their buildings. We were short of hands and Gerda never left management again. She turned out to be good at setting up new BSOs in schools, and how nice was that! Her knowledge of education came in handy. From 2009 we were in the flow of expansions, innovations and ensuring that the quality is good. In addition to innovation and expansion, Gerda supervised our managers. Op Stoom was in full development with her.

And then the crisis hit its lowest point in 2011… this required completely different qualities. Devising strategies so that we kept flexible and stable. Shrinking at existing locations and putting our shoulders together. This  was difficult but we managed well, Gerda also played an important role in this. After the crisis, we continued to build Op Stoom together. Gerda never let herself be fooled.Always optimistic and looking forward to something new.

Gerda became a director
Gerda didn't really like the title at first. Can you still ground yourself? We all had to get used to that. With an Op Stoom of this size, you can no longer know everything and you no longer have to do everything yourself. But Gerda has become a fantastic director. Always responsible and strategic. Always busy and then Covid started.

No to Costa Rica
Gerda let her plans for Costa Rica go to take on covid from day one and guided Op Stoom through this crisis in a way that impressed everyone internally. We didn't know what hit us but recovered quickly and Gerda rolled up her sleeves for 2 years. We and the covid team of Op Stoom are in awe of how Gerda did this.

Time flies
You snap your fingers and 15 years at Op Stoom have flown by. She is retiring as director, but fortunately remains connected to Op Stoom, through her old field. As a physiotherapist, Gerda was already interested in ergonomics. In childcare it is important that attention is paid to how our employees lift, bend and play with the children. Gerda will guide the pedagogical staff in this.

We don't have the words to express our gratitude so for now bye and thank you Gerda!

The Mud Kitchen

You will encounter them in the gardens of Op Stoom; the mud kitchen. With delicious sand, water, leaves, twigs and the imagination of children in combination with kitchen utensils from the grown-up world they will create world class dishes.

Your child can fantasize in the mud kitchen, alone or together with other children.  Let children do their own thing, they are more creative than most adults.  Play together or alone.  Their creativity is enhanced by the old-fashioned pots, pans, spoons and jugs.  In combination with water and sand you can 'cook' many different things with recipes that no one knew yet!

We only provide the conditions for the children. Being outside a lot and making sure that the pots and pans are in the mud kitchen to play with. Water and sand nearby is also indispensable. Check! Your child will encounter the mud kitchen in the garden and can then get to work endlessly.

Muddy clothes no problem!
We don't want children to worry about having to keep their clothes clean. And we don't want to worry about that either 😊. Playing outside means that children can get dirty. Old clothes that are comfortable are great for the children of Op Stoom!

Facts & Figures

In these facts & figures we have collected interesting and funny figures for you from the past year. Statistics, percentages and figures about the on goings with Op Stoom. How many nice, new employees we have added in 2022, for example. But also how many kilometers we have driven with the Waggie.

Designed by Kids

A little different? We love it! That is why we have put children at the center and have given them glorious (leading) roles in the entire design process of the Op Stoom house style. We captured their thoughts, experiences, fantasies in drawings and translated them into a playful house style, designed in a style manual. The base consists of a series of icons, shapes, patterns and a font. These can be used for all kinds of communication things. Icons (the children's creations) can also be added easily. So there is a lot of flexibility in the concept.

Children of all different ages have laid the foundation for our house style with their drawings. The selected drawings have been scanned and digitally edited. With the set of icons, shapes and patterns, each design becomes unique, surprising and original. Over and over again. Because the possibilities are endless. 

A dynamic house style that grows with the imagination of children. The starting point is that we collect new children's drawings every two years. We will be working on that in the coming quarter, who knows, maybe your child will also be involved in the house style of Op Stoom!

Group helpers

If you bring your child to one of our day care centers you may have met the group help. They have now also started at several of our BSO's.

In 2022 we decided to start working with group helpers on the groups. They support the pedagogical staff in all kinds of practical tasks. Washing hands and wiping hands after snacks and lunch, singing songs with the children, making beds, picking up the children from school and so much more. This allows us to give children even more attention and the day runs more smoothly.

A nice extra is that group helpers get acquainted with the work in childcare in this way, because they do not (yet) have a Pedagogical Employee diploma. Some group helpers enjoy working with children so much that they start training to become Pedagogical Employees, because working and learning is possible at Op Stoom. Want to know more? Visit www.werkenbijopstoom.nl/werken-leren

ImprovementMeter

Knowing what we do well and what can be improved according to our customers. We would like that! That is why we have been asking our parents a number of questions via the Improvement Meter since November, at various fixed times during the childcare period. We have already received a lot of valuable information. This is very helpful. Parents, thank you for that!

Current figure
Parents currently give Op Stoom an average of 8.2. On the question 'How likely is it that you would recommend Op Stoom to others?', also known as the NPS score, we score +41. This is well above the national average of +28. Figures we can be proud of!

Room for improvement
Of course there are also wishes, points for attention and points for improvement from the results. About communication to parents and about nutrition for example. This fall, one year after the start, we will analyze the results extensively and determine where we see room for improvement throughout the organization.

The site-specific results are picked up by the location's Cluster Manager.

Good to know
The data that parents enter is anonymous and cannot be traced back. Unless the parents fill in personal details themselves and indicate that they would like to contact us as a result of the investigation.

Do you have a question about the ImprovementMeter? Feel free to ask us through the Cluster Manager of the location.

The Collective Labour Agreement Childcare 2023-2024 is complete

As in most industries, our new collective labor agreement was negotiated long and hard, but by the end of February everyone was on the same page. The new Collective Labor Agreement for Childcare runs from January 2023 1st to the end of June 2024. The salaries of the pedagogical professionals will increase by an average of 11.97% over the entire term (in 2023 an average of 7.97% and in 2024 4%). The starting salary per scale will be improved and all employees who have been working in childcare for a long time and who are passionate about it can also continue to grow. All salary scales will be extended by two steps as of 1 January 2024. Good news for our employees!

#Too cool not to share

Podcast De kleine pedagogiek van Op Stoom (the small pedagogy by Op Stoom)

We love children and you can see that in the way we treat children. Pedagogy is in our DNA and you notice that right away when you are with us or when you read our pedagogical vision. From now on you can also listen , to the podcast De kleine pedagogiek by Op Stoom (in Dutch).

Check the second episode here: Play
Dit you know that feeling fabrics or spinning, looking at and putting a toycar in their mouth, (un-)screwing the lid of a jar, sorting of twigs, or using a cup as a hat, all belongs to playing? Interesting huh! Elizabeth is more than happy to tell you more about it.

Did you miss the first episode? Who doesn't wiggle; the need for a child to move. This episode will give you new insights, earpods in and listen away.

Op Stoom x MeneerTjes SlodDe & Vos

We already mentioned them in the previous quarterly report, on Sunday the 12th of February the time had come… MeneerTjes SlodDe en Vos gave two exclusive 'Op Stoom' shows in the Patronaat. These shows were especially for employees and parents with children from 3 to 7 years old and the roof went off! What did this look like? Take a look!

Awesome right?! Just like last year, they will also be touring our daycare centers this year for small performances with and for the future generation of concertgoers.

Op Stoom 'in the wild'

The start of spring means the start of the festival season, we are bubbling with crazy, sweet and creative ideas, we are getting ready and are looking foward to it!

This year you will find Op Stoom at the Havenfestival IJmuiden on June 24-25 2023 and also at Parksessies in Haarlem on July 14-15-16 2023.

Which Op Stoom activities are at these festivals? There's only one way to find out…
See you there? And we'd love it if you bring your (grand-)children, nephews, nieces, neighbour children!