Child care under pressure: the quality of Dutch centers in 1995 and in 2001.
In 2001, the authors assessed the quality of care provided to children in 51 care groups from 39 child-care centers in The Netherlands using the Infant/Toddler Environment Rating Scale (T. Harms, D. Cryer, & R. M. Clifford, 1990) and compared the results with the quality of child care assessed in 1995 (M. H. van IJzendoorn, L. W. C. Tavecchio, G. J. Stams, M. J. E. Verhoeven, & E. J. Reiling, 1998). The overall quality and scale scores for language and learning activities were significantly lower in 2001 than in 1995. Child-care centers founded within the past 6 years (all nonsubsidized centers) scored considerably lower than did older, mostly subsidized, centers. The results are discussed from the perspective of changes in the socioeconomic and political context of child care.
Deynoot-Schaub
Mirjam J J M Gevers
MJ
Department of Education, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Riksen-Walraven
J Marianne
JM
D017028:Caregivers / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends; D002654:Child Care / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends*; D002656:Child Day Care Centers / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003625:Data Collection / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007804:Language Development; D007858:Learning; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands; D015588:Observer Variation; D011057:Politics; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000639:trends*; D011786:Quality Control; D019984:Quality Indicators, Health Care / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors