Growth and development
How children grow at Espira
After-school care is the place where children have fun with friends and enjoy new adventures every day. They choose what they want to do: build a hut, play football, do crafts, participate in a group activity or just relax after a busy school day. We actively go outside every day – rain or shine. Our educational professionals provide guidance where necessary, but above all give them space. This allows children to learn who they are and what is important to them. Your child will make friends, become more independent, dare to do more and learn to take responsibility. This combination of fun and challenge provides the perfect foundation for secondary school and beyond.
Growth and development
Why children enjoy attending our after-school care centre
Children are born with a natural urge to discover and grow. At our after-school care centre, they are given plenty of space to do so: at their own pace, in their own way. We provide a safe place where children can explore with confidence and enjoyment.
Our five core values – natural outdoors, development, connection and innovation – and our Scandinavian vision form the basis of everything we do. We have translated these into five concrete characteristics that you will see reflected in the group every day. This is why your child will enjoy coming to our after-school care every day:
1. Healthy foundation
If you start early with a healthy lifestyle, you will enjoy it for the rest of your life. With conscious, healthy snacks – such as crackers, hummus and fruit and vegetable snacks – plenty of exercise and sufficient relaxation, we ensure that children feel energetic and strong. Our indoor and outdoor spaces encourage active play – climbing, playing football, building, running and going on adventures together. And then resting and relaxing. With us, your child will learn that being active is more fun than sitting still, that healthy food gives you energy and when it's time for a break.
2. Growing up resilient
Children learn most from challenges. Building a hut that keeps getting better. Playing a game that teaches you something. Working together with friends, even when it's difficult. Our educational professionals are there to observe, but above all they let children find solutions themselves. We create an atmosphere in which children are allowed to experiment – to fall, get up and try again. By practising this in a safe environment, your child learns to persevere, think creatively and trust in their own strength.
3. Learning through play – indoors and outdoors
At the after-school care centre, we offer children adventures and challenging activities. They choose what they want to do: play outside, build huts, do crafts, build things or play games. Our educational professionals also offer age-appropriate (group) activities to challenge the children. We go outside every day. Children are allowed to discover, experiment and make choices in their play. This teaches your child to collaborate, improvise and persevere.
4. Self-confidence and responsibility
We believe in the power of children. That is why, at our after-school care centre, they are gradually given more freedom to make their own choices and take responsibility. In a group setting, children discover their talents and limits, and learn from each other. Older children help younger children. With the after-school care children's council, we invite children aged 8 and older to come up with activities themselves and resolve conflicts together (under supervision). With this freedom and good support, they grow into independent teenagers who know what they want and feel connected to others.
5. Personal attention and professional guidance
Our educational professionals build warm, personal relationships with the children. We know which children need to relax after school and which children need to burn off some energy. Children receive individual attention and the space to be themselves within the group. We know all the groups of friends, individual talents and how best to stimulate children in their development. Cooperation with parents and schools inspires confidence. Together, we ensure that your child feels at home and has fun at our after-school care centre – every single day.
Request a tourPlaying and having adventures with friends
An afternoon at the after-school care centre
At Espira, we offer before- and after-school care, holiday care and care during school study days. This is what an afternoon at our after-school care centre looks like. Safe, familiar and full of adventures with friends.
Playing and having adventures with friends
An afternoon at the after-school care centre
Pick-up from school
After school, your child will be picked up, either on foot or by our after-school care bus. The oldest children are usually allowed to come to the after-school care centre independently, either on foot or by bicycle.
Healthy snack: recharge your batteries
First, there is time for a healthy snack: fresh fruit, vegetables or a cracker, and something to drink. Children chat with their after-school care friends and can relax after a busy school day.
Free play and activities
After that, the children choose what they want to do. Crafts, painting, reading or playing outside. We work with vertical groups, which means that children of different ages interact with each other. We also organise fun, supervised group activities, such as a craft project or games afternoon.
Outdoor play and adventure
We go outside every day. We play football, play in the sandpit, swing, build huts or explore the woods or park together. Sun, wind or rain – the best memories are made outdoors.
Tidying up and picking up
The children tidy up together. Parents arrive to pick up their children. After a final wave, the older children hop on their bikes: 'See you tomorrow!'
Good to know: After-school care is primarily intended for play and fun. If agreements have been made, children may also do their homework at the after-school care centre.
Adventurous play indoors and outdoors
Adventures & challenging activities
Climbing, building, playing, discovering: it all happens at the after-school care centre. Children learn best when they are allowed to explore boundaries and experience for themselves how far they can go. That is why we encourage adventurous play at our after-school care centre, both indoors and outdoors.
We organise workshops, sports and games activities, and creative projects. But more importantly, we give children the freedom to come up with their own activities and seek out challenges. A plaster or a bruise now and then is no big deal – it's all part of the fun. Your child learns to assess what they can and cannot do. And that builds self-confidence.
Adventurous play indoors and outdoors
Why adventures and challenging activities are good for children
Children have a natural urge to test their limits. Climbing until they feel excited. Running until they are out of breath. Playing rough with friends. We call this adventurous play: play that combines excitement and fun.
What do children learn from adventurous play?
Children consciously seek out boundaries, putting themselves at risk of getting hurt. That may sound scary, but it is essential for their development. If you constantly protect children, they cannot develop further. By taking on challenges, children grow in different ways. They become stronger and more resilient, their self-confidence and creativity grow, they discover their own limits and talents, learn to assess whether something is safe and decide whether they want to take the risk, and often feel less anxious later in life.
What does adventurous play look like?
Our educational professionals encourage adventurous play at the after-school care centre by offering challenging, age-appropriate activities. Children experience speed by cycling fast or running after each other. They seek height by climbing on playground equipment or jumping off a wall. Romping around, playing with sticks, learning to use real tools – it's all part of it. Young children watch with excitement what the older children are doing. Independent play is also important: playing without direct adult supervision.
How do our educational professionals guide this process?
Our educational professionals give children more confidence and space step by step. They do not hover over them, but observe from a distance. They pay close attention to what each child needs and tailor their approach to the child's abilities. The most important rule: only intervene when it is really necessary. That is why we first count to thirty – often the child has already solved the problem themselves by then. We also give children the freedom to come up with challenging activities themselves. Giving them that confidence and ownership creates the most enjoyable moments and memories!
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Fun every day
Holiday care & themed programmes
During the school holidays, our after-school care centre is open all day for children whose parents have opted for the 52-week childcare package (including holiday care). Children can then play with their friends and enjoy adventures all day long. We create a special programme for each holiday with themed weeks, trips and workshops. Fun guaranteed!
Calculate your net costs
Care packages & costs
At Espira, you choose the type of after-school care that suits your situation. Before- and/or after-school care, holiday care and care during school study days, 40 or 52 weeks a year – with our handy Net Cost Calculator, you can immediately see what it costs. Handy: transport to and from school, healthy snacks, activities and trips are all included. You wave your child off in the morning, we do the rest.
Calculate your net costs
How much does after-school care at Espira cost and how does it work?
With our childcare packages, you can easily choose the after-school care that best suits your situation. Before-school and after-school care only during school weeks, or also full days during school holidays and care during school study days? It's all possible.
Our childcare packages
At Espira, we offer various packages for after-school care (ages 4 to 12):
- 52-week package
Childcare throughout the year, 52 weeks of peace of mind (most popular package) . Perfect if you work full-time and don't want to worry about holiday care.
- 40-week package
Childcare only during school weeks (not during school holidays). Ideal if you are at home during school holidays.
The following options are available at our after-school care centres:
- Before-school care (VSO): care before your child's school starts.
- After-school care (NSO): The start time depends on when the primary school closes – this varies per school.
- Full-day care during school holidays and school study days.
In our parent portal, a web portal and app especially for parents, you can arrange everything related to your child's childcare yourself. For example, you can request (extra) childcare days, swap or change them, and view your invoices.
Holiday care (52-week package)
During school holidays, our opening hours are more flexible than during school weeks. Your child is welcome all day on the day(s) of your regular childcare. For opening hours, please check the location page of your BSO.
Espira after-school care rates
Would you like to know how much the various after-school care options cost? Take a look at our rates page or use our handy Net Cost Calculator to calculate your personal situation. Of course, you can always contact us. We are happy to help.
Good to know: transport to and from school, healthy snacks, activities and trips are included in the package price.
Check rates for after-school care
Applying for childcare allowance: when and how?
Once you have signed your contract with Espira, you can apply for childcare allowance. You can do this at the Tax and Customs Administration. Be sure to submit your application within three months of the start of childcare, otherwise you will lose out on money. The LRK number you need for your application can be found on your contract and on the location page of your Espira after-school care centre.
Tip: Has your situation changed? Is your child attending childcare more, less or no longer? Has your income, work or health situation changed? Are you getting married, moving in with someone or separating? Please notify the Tax and Customs Administration. All of these changes will affect your childcare allowance.
Registering for after-school care and payment
You pay Espira Kinderopvang by direct debit around the 25th of the month – always in advance for the following month. The invoice is available in our parent portal from the 1st day of the month (and therefore not by post or email). You can download your annual statement for the childcare allowance in February or March via our parent portal for your tax return.
One team together
Cooperation with parents and schools.
At Espira, we believe in connection – with parents, schools and our community. First and foremost, we ensure good communication with parents. We also work closely with primary schools and maintain contact with sports facilities and play areas in the neighbourhood. This enables us to offer the children at our after-school care centres a wide range of activities and guarantee high-quality childcare.
One team together
Working together with parents and schools: one team for your child
At Espira, the interests of the children are paramount. That is why we believe it is important to maintain good contact with parents and with the primary schools where the children come from.
Working with parents
At Espira, we work every day to improve the quality of our education. That's why we're always open to parents' opinions and feedback. Our parent committee represents the interests of parents and children and contributes ideas on important topics such as nutrition, education, safety and organisation.
Our educational professionals share photos of special moments in [our parent portal]. While you are at work, you can see your child playing outside, doing crafts or enjoying time with friends. This allows you to stay connected to what your child is experiencing. Six weeks after your child starts at our after-school care centre, we schedule a meeting to discuss how they are settling in. This is followed by an annual development meeting.
Collaboration with primary schools
We work closely with primary schools in our area. This is mainly for practical reasons: we take children from our after-school care centre to school and vice versa. But the collaboration goes further than that. Our goal is to work with schools to create a continuous learning pathway from 0 to 12 years of age. We join forces so that your child can develop to their full potential.
External collaborations
At Espira, we also believe in connecting with our community. That is why we collaborate with gyms, scouting organisations, swimming pools, climbing forests and play centres in the neighbourhood. Children sometimes play in adjacent school playgrounds and we share spaces and expertise with various parties. These collaborations enable us to offer children a wide and varied range of activities.
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