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Help us to keep open the only english pre-school in Almere!

145 signatures

Toddlers attending the only English pre-school in Almere may very soon have nowhere to go, as Partou has informed of its sudden closure on July 15th. The parents have gathered, and are looking into all possibilities to continue running this facility. For the parents, the school is a huge success.

Petition

We

Parents, teachers, expats for whom this pre-school is needed in an international municipality.

 

establish that:

This pre-school is the only English option for toddlers aged 2 to 4 years. Expat children often go through many changes and challenges; this school helps giving them stability and helps the parents to better enjoy their years in the Netherlands, since the school is also the heart of a community. It is well known in IPSA (International Primary School Almere), that kids coming from this pre-school integrate in primary school happily and smoothly.

 

and request

All parents of current and former pupils agree the pre-school has brought out the best in the children and provided an excellent grounding for all who have passed through its doors. We ask you to please sign this petition, and ask the Almere Gemeente - to join efforts with the parents in finding a solution to keep the school open. The parents are willing to engage in discussing possibilities and finding solutions.

The answer

Smallsteps takes over from Partou

Smallsteps Childcare recently wrote: "We intend to take over the English pre-school from Partou. With the same programme your toddler is used to. The groups remain the same and the pedagogical staff member stays as well. We will also continue to follow the standards of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), with which we connect with the teaching, development and care in the United Kingdom."

REACTION FROM LEAD PETITIONER

Dear signatories of this petition, I would like to thank each and every one of you. It was our strength and our commitment together that made possible the continuity of the English pre-school in Almere.

I cannot thank enough for being a part of this community effort.

Thank you for your help and best regards,

Telma Rodrigues

 

Current status

This petition is not open to collect signatures.

 

Details

Addressed to:
schoolbestuur 
Petition desk:
Almere 
Closing date:
2019-12-10 
Status:
Answered 
Lead petitioner:
Telma Rodrigues 
Organisation:
Parents of the English pre-school in IPSA 

History

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Updates

Smallsteps takes over from Partou

Smallsteps Childcare recently wrote: "We intend to take over the English pre-school from Partou. With the same programme your toddler is used to.

+Read more...

The groups remain the same and the pedagogical staff member stays as well. We will also continue to follow the standards of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), with which we connect with the teaching, development and care in the United Kingdom."

REACTION FROM LEAD PETITIONER

Dear signatories of this petition, I would like to thank each and every one of you. It was our strength and our commitment together that made possible the continuity of the English pre-school in Almere.

I cannot thank enough for being a part of this community effort.

Thank you for your help and best regards,

Telma Rodrigues

2019-08-15

Smallsteps is taking over the English pre-school in Almere!!

Smallsteps Childcare has recently informed they are willing to take over the English pre-school in Almere from the previous provider (Partou).

Toddlers can continue with the same programme after the Summer break, at Smallsteps “De Club”, located in the IPSA, International Primary School Almere, in Literatuurwijk.

Smallsteps will follow the standards of the EYFS, Early Years Foundation Stage, relevant to all who wish to enrol their kids in the primary school in the future.

Smallsteps childcare has almost 300 childcare locations in the Netherlands and it’s easy to find out more about their mission and values on their website.

As to the English pre-school, would you like to have a look at the premises, or would you like to register your child? If so, please contact Annemiek Brower Wassink, Location Manager at Smallsteps De Club:

Phone #: 06 11 80 81 36 Email: Annemiek.brouwer-wassink@smallsteps.nl.

2019-08-13

"Where there is a will, there is a way"

The parents of the children attending the pre-school in the premises of the IPSA (International Primary School Almere) can all attest how extraordinary the teachers have been in terms of educating, caring and nurturing our children, but we also understand the financial reasons behind this business decision (less pupils in the waiting list + a high rent), which is why we proposed the current provider, Partou, to consider these alternatives before closing the pre-school:

  1. Starting from September, opening the pre-school with 8 kids per 1 teacher (respecting thus the ratio for this specific age group) with a waiting list for additional applications.
+Read more...

The 2nd teacher would be reintroduced once the desired number of students was reached. In September we have 8 children; some want to stay for an extended period of time;

  1. Parent participation: one parent would be present at the location every day in order to assist the teacher whenever needed;

  2. A (more aggressive) marketing campaign: almost nobody knows the pre-school exists. At the Almere Gemeente website, as an example, there is no mention of this pre-school at all. We recommended an open day every quarter, marketed across expat groups and forums, informing everyone about the school and its benefits, in order to boost applications. The first open day could be held in July before the expected end of school. The parents were willing to help advertising not only the pre-school but also the open day;

  3. If feasible, opening a BSO at the location in the afternoons to boost profits and somehow compensate for the pre-school lowest months;

Partou believes these suggestions are good, but the rent is still too high. The parents have tried to get a reaction from the Gemeente, but haven't managed to get one yet. We do not ask for subsidies, but the Gemeente has a say in this matter. We are sure that "where there is a will, there is a way".

There are no bilingual pre-schools or centers where English can be taught to children of these ages, so we will keep on looking into all possibilities to keep this facility open.

2019-06-14