About the childcare centre

Beukennestje is a joint childcare project run by Kindercentrum vzw and O.L.V. Van Lourdes Hospital in Waregem. The centre is managed on a day-to-day basis by team coach Hilde Parmentier.

How we work

Beukennestje provides childcare for children aged 0 to 3 years. We currently have places for 29 children.

You can entrust your child to our enthusiastic and professional team of five childcare practitioners with complete peace of mind. Every day, they dedicate themselves with great love and care to creating a warm and safe environment. Outside, a large, adventurous garden awaits, where all children can play, move around and discover new things to their heart’s content.

The children are cared for in two spacious groups: Dwergjes and Kabouters. We work with mixed-age groups, as this creates a warm, family-like atmosphere in which children of different ages learn from and help one another.

Beukennestje is open every weekday from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and is exclusively reserved for employees of O.L.V. Van Lourdes Hospital in Waregem. All new registrations are therefore verified with the hospital.

What matters to us

We believe it is important to provide a warm and safe nest where every child feels secure, cared for and happy. We pay attention to both the child’s needs and the parents’ wishes, ensuring that everyone feels heard and supported.

Our activities are based on learning through experience, allowing children to explore and grow in a playful way. We place great value on open and honest communication, ensuring that parents are always kept informed about their child’s well-being and development.

We also regularly organise activities for parents to strengthen their involvement. In addition, we provide fresh, healthy meals every day, prepared by OLV Hospital in Waregem, so that children can always enjoy a nutritious meal.

Regarding priority rules

As a primary measure, we apply the statutory priority rules established by Kind en Gezin (the Flemish agency for child and family services). As these rules are subject to regular changes, we kindly refer you to our website for the most up-to-date information: https://kindercentrum.be/nl/werkingsprincipes/

In addition to these primary priority rules, we apply an additional internal priority rule requiring one or both parents to be employed by Algemeen Ziekenhuis O.L.V. Van Lourdes Waregem.

Employees of Algemeen Ziekenhuis O.L.V. Van Lourdes Waregem can apply for a childcare place for their child from the first day of pregnancy. Applications are prioritised according to the chronological order in which they are submitted. If a brother or sister is already attending Beukennestje, these applications are given additional priority. Applications submitted by children of staff members (i.e. grandchildren of staff members) are given the lowest priority within the priority group.

Kindercentrum reserves the right to verify your employment role at O.L.V. Van Lourdes Hospital directly with the care manager.

If no priority criteria apply, or if applications meet an equivalent combination of criteria, the chronological order of registration is respected.

Regarding the childcare schedule

For employees of Algemeen Ziekenhuis O.L.V. Van Lourdes Waregem, the minimum average attendance requirement is three full days per week. Half-day attendance is not possible.

Kindercentrum cannot guarantee the minimum number of childcare days at the start of the placement, which means your child may initially attend fewer days. As soon as occupancy allows, the childcare provider will inform you, and the number of childcare days must be increased to at least three days per week.

We aim to establish a childcare schedule with fixed days, allowing children to experience regularity and continuity. Employees of Algemeen Ziekenhuis O.L.V. Van Lourdes Waregem who can demonstrate that they genuinely work variable shifts may use a variable childcare schedule. In that case, the childcare days must be communicated within the agreed timeframe.