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:
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. 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;
Parent participation: one parent would be present at the location every day in order to assist the teacher whenever needed;
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;
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.
Vanuit de volgende Maartensdijkse Maatschappelijke instellingen is er steun voor deze petitie binnen gekomen:
Historische Vereniging Maartensdijk Oranjevereniging Maartensdijk Stichting Dierenweide Maartensdijk.
Er is op 6 November een debat over de prijsverhoging van priadel. Het wordt besproken in de vaste kamercommissie waarbij minister Bruins ook aanwezig is.
Dit is hét moment om de petitie aan te bieden bij minister Bruins. We hebben al een goed resultaat, maar het zou prachtig zijn als het aantal ondertekenaars hoger wordt. Maak daarom gebruik van je netwerk voor nog meer handtekeningen.
De welbekende Hans Smolders uit Tilburg heeft deze petitie getekend. "De VVD doet geheel anders dan wat ze steeds zeggen." laat hij per mail weten..
Hieronder een korte update over de voortgang van de petitie
Op 8 september heeft de beroepsvereniging voor rijinstructeurs LBKR een persbericht op de site geplaatst en naar de pers verzonden: www.lbkr.nl/2019/09/08/lbkr-pleit-voor-verkeerseducatie-op-het-voortgezet-onderwijs/
Op Rij-instructie.nl is op donderdag 10 oktober een artikel geplaatst met de kop "LBKR vindt steeds meer steun voor petitie". Lees hier het artikel: www.rij-instructie.nl/nieuws/actueel/24258/lbkr-vindt-steeds-meer-steun-voor-petitie
Op 15 november organiseert LBKR een bijeenkomst in Epe.
U bent dan van harte welkom. Bij de stand van LBKR worden handtekeningen verzameld en er zal tijdens de bijeenkomst een update worden gegeven met betrekking tot de petitie. Meer informatie over de bijeenkomst vindt u op onze site: www.lbkr.nl
Het illegaal kappen van bomen strafbaar stellen
Increase the penalty for developers and landowners who remove trees illegally. It is too easy for a developer to illegally remove trees including, but not only, trees with TPOs and receive a small fine which in no way reflects the value of trees or the profit the developer can gain. We want the financial penalty increased and severe restrictions placed on the lands future use.
More details Trees take decades or centuries to reach maturity.
They absorb carbon and expel oxygen, provide shade for humans and habitat for numerous organisms. A developer who illegally fells a group of trees, even those protected by a Tree Preservation Order, can expect a fine of a few thousand pounds and an order to "replace" the trees. As well as a bigger financial penalty and replacement order, the land should be passed to a public trust for 100 years. This will make developers think twice.