Uniform transfer of toddlers to elementary school
With the Equal Opportunities Agenda (GKA), the municipality of Aalten is working on equal opportunities for all children. This is a major challenge that can only be tackled in collaboration. It is important that the development of children is monitored from an early age and that all involved can grow along with it. To this end, in the municipality of Aalten from now on, a transfer form will be completed for all toddlers who make the transition to primary education.
"The transition of a toddler to primary education is an important step in a child's life and we need to handle it carefully," said Nathalie Gribbroek. Nathalie is branch manager of KOSMO, for four child care organizations in the municipality of Aalten.
Development in view
The municipality of Aalten has employed Vera Meinen as equal opportunities project coordinator for two years. Vera: "We had meetings with childcare organizations, guest parent agencies, Yunio youth health care, Ondersteuningsteam Oost-Achterhoek, GGD Noord- en Oost-Gelderland, De Achterhoekse Poort Library and of course the elementary school. There the need for a 'continuous line' emerged clearly. After all, the development that a child has gone through in child care or with a guest parent must be known to the elementary school when the child starts there. Previously, each organization had its own form or procedure for this. The great thing is that we can now provide a uniform transfer form. And because children do not always attend elementary school in the municipality of Aalten, we have also already made contact with the municipalities surrounding us and the Oost-Achterhoek cooperation association."
Uniform transfer form
Starting with the 2024-2025 school year, child care organizations, host parents and elementary school will start working with the new transfer form and associated protocol. The form provides the elementary school with the information needed to give each child the right guidance that matches the child's needs and talents. The form contains information about what a child can already do well, what approach is supportive, and in what areas additional help is desired or already provided. Parents are involved in the process.
Further strengthen
Twice a year all parties involved meet to evaluate and discuss how we can strengthen the through-line for growing children in the municipality of Aalten. "In this way we ensure together that every child in our municipality can grow with confidence and pleasure and develop optimally," concludes a satisfied Nathalie.