Examples of activities
Sustainable learning as a team and in cooperation with parents
In the project ‘Sustainable learning as a team and in cooperation with parents’ (2007-2008) MUTANT aims at anchoring the cooperation with the parents in the organisation through learning methods of the critical learning community. The competencies of the professionals and the learning ability of the team and the organisation are of crucial importance. Permanent learning is the central theme, individually as well as collectively in the team. From the learning models ‘core reflection’ and ‘critical learning communities’ ingredients are taken that are useful for early childhood in the Netherlands. Concrete instruments are learning diary, working with buddies, identifying each other’s qualities, posing critical questions, contract of a learning organisation. MUTANT is currently writing a manual for initial training institutes , coaching in early childhood care and education, contributions to training and research (Fontyshogescholen),etc.
Project team: Fuusje de Graaff, Anke van Keulen, Ana del Barrio Saiz, Wendy Doeleman
Cooperation partners: SKAR in Arnhem, Partou Dordrecht, Kanteel Den Bosch and Knooppunt Kralingen in Rotterdam. Financing: Bernard van Leer Foundation
See: training
More information: Anke van Keulen contact.
Early Childhood Care and Education – advice and evaluation
MUTANT advises – based also on years of experience in the Advisory Committee for Education for the city of Utrecht – municipalities and institutions in the field of the (pedagogical) quality in Early Childhood Education. Examples are: advising local governments on Early Childhood Programmes in child care centres, process evaluations of pre-schools, literature studies. Present assignments: monitoring the implementation of Early Childhood Education Programmes in child-care centres and advising on mixed pre-schools to counter segregation.
More information: Anke van Keulen contact.
Democratic citizenship for young children
Bringing up children to be democratic citizens, what is that about? Eduniek and MUTANT started a project Democratic Citizenship for 3-6-year olds. In their groups at (pre)school children learn about communal spirit, making sacrifices for others, listening to each other. They also learn that what they say matters, that they are heard and appreciated. At a few pilot locations (pre-schools and kindergarten groups) in Utrecht activities are currently being developed and tried out in practice. It is about the vision on bringing up to democracy and about the competencies children need to live in and to contribute to a world full of diversity.
Execution: Bureau MUTANT and Eduniek.
More information: Anke van Keulen contact.
Childcare centre and school as space for democratic practice
This project enables schools and childcare centres to realise democratic citizenship and to realise their social function. In this project childcare centres and school can become a space for democratic practice, with a voice for every child, educator, teacher and manager. Professionals will receive support in practising democratic skills and attitudes with children. The focus is also on the democratic space within the childcare centre and school and the complete organisation(s) is involved: from the young child to the director. This comprehensive approach is a key factor in the project. The outline and programme of the project are based on international research. Professor Glenda Mac Naughton from the University Melbourne in Australia supports the research part in this project.
The project will start in September 2009 in four pilot organisations in Integrated schools, childcare centres and after-school care and it will run for three years, financially supported by the Bernard van Leer Foundation.
Execution: Bureau MUTANT, Stichting Vreedzaam, Eduniek.
More information: Anke van Keulen contact.
The pedagogical circle. Pedagogical policy on one A4
MUTANT supports institutions to realize the pedagogical circle – the pedagogical policy on one A4! - within their own policy . The pedagogical circle has been developed by Stichting Kinderopvang (Child-care Foundation) Alphen aan de Rijn. It is a dynamic and practice-orientated model to develop and implement pedagogical policy. The clear relation between vision, attitude and behaviour make the model a valuable addition to the quality policy in the organisation. MUTANT has just completed a two-year support trajectory with 50 playgroups f Alifa-Welzijn in Enschede.
De pedagogical circle. Annemiek van Beurden & Anke van Keulen, SWP, Amsterdam, 2005. See: publications
More information: Anke van Keulen contact.
Supporting care- projects for senior members of ethnic minorities and inter-culturalisation of the care supply.
In various ways MUTANT has been involved in the setting up of a specific supply of care for senior members of ethnic minorities. Thus, support was given to the start of a day-care centre for Moluccans in Alphen aan de Rijn and Moordrecht, and for Surinamers, Turks and Moroccan men and women in The Hague and Amsterdam. MUTANT also supports the ambassadors of the network of care managers of ACTIZ (organisation of care entrepreneurs). By exchanging their expertise in this area the managers create a care supply that takes into account the specific needs of migrants.
More informaton: Fuusje de Graaff, contact.
Example networks:
European network DECET
MUTANT is co-founder and was overall-coordinator (2004-2006) of the European network DECET (Diversity in Early Childhood Education and Training). DECET stimulates equal opportunities and values diversity in child- care and pre-school facilities and in training and education based on the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child. Participating organisations are from Great Britain, Ireland, The Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France, Spain, Portugal and Greece.
DECET cooperates closely with the International Step by Step Association (ISSA) that strives for quality in early childhood in 30 countries in East and Middle Europe and in the former Sovjet Republics.
MUTANT takes part in the DECET study group ‘Professionalism’ (Ana del Barrio Saiz) which looks into the diversity competencies of professionals, and in the study group ‘Children’s voices’ (Anke van Keulen) which aims to promote the participation of young children.
Together with a DECET study group MUTANT wrote a training manual; see www.decet.org.
Download DECET flyer
More information: Anke van Keulen, contact
Childcare International
Childcare International, of which Anke van Keulen is co-initiator, founded the Transferpunt Kinderopvang at the beginning of 2007. Its objective is to exchange knowledge and experience of the child-care sector, playgroups and Early Childhood Education with relevant knowledge and experience abroad. CCI also wants to bring the acquired knowledge to the attention of management and politics.
Functions of CCI:
- To make knowledge accessible for Dutch and foreign professionals and organisations.
- To arrange translations of publications.
- To maintain the network
- To publish the magazine Kinderen in Europa / Children in Europe
With the conference ‘Young children and citizenship’ Childcare International put the social function of child care on the agenda and published : ‘Kinderschapsvorming, kinderopvang van opvang naar educatie tot instrument voor burgerschapsvorming’. (Young children and citizenship’:, child care from care to education to an instrument for citizenship)
More information: Anke van Keulen, contact and www.childcareinternational.nl
Children in Europe Magazine - Tijdschrift Kinderen in Europa
The Children in Europe magazine is a magazine for everyone who works with and for children in the age of 0 – 10 years old and for all those who are interested in children and education. Indispensible if you want to keep up with policy, research and practice in Europe. Published simultaneously in eight languages through a network of national magazines.
Child Care International is the Dutch representative in the network Children in Europe.
Download flyer Kinderen in Europa: pdf
Download poster Children in Europe: pdf
More information: Anke van Keulen, contact and www.childrenineurope.org
Joint Learning Initiative on Children and Ethnic Diversity
MUTANT is member if the Joint Learning Initiative on Children and Ethnic Diversity, a global and inter-disciplinary network of leading researchers, policy-makers and practitioners who are committed to reducing racial and ethnic divisions and conflicts and building socially inclusive and respectful communities through the promotion of effective early childhood programs. Through the coordinated activities of six Learning Groups we aim to share and disseminate existing expertise and knowledge as well as work in partnership with local organizations and researchers to support the development of new and innovative early childhood programs in regions characterized by divisions and/or conflicts.
MUTANT joins the ‘Children, Race and Ethnicity Learning Group’, chaired by Professor Glenda MacNaughton (Australia)
This group focuses on developing understanding of the ways in which racial and ethnic divisions and/or conflict impact upon young children and their families and communities through promoting and supporting the development of innovative approaches to indepth and situated qualitative research.
More information: Anke van Keulen, contact and www.jliced.org