The children come from diverse backgrounds, Ploegman said. Some parents have jobs in which they must work all summer. Sending their children to Ploegman's school means they can avoid having to send their children to expensive summer camps, or engage babysitters or grandparents to look after them.

The government supports the development of child care centres, subsidising recognised facilities for parents. Still, they remain expensive and because most facilities are not located on school premises, parents must work out ways to make sure their young ones are dropped off safely at these centres.

By contrast, at De School 'our pupils can remain at school all day', Ploegman said. She added that the pupils can 'interchangeably play and study' while there.

Whereas public schools in the Netherlands are free of charge, De School is private and costs around 6,000 euros ($8,400) per child per year. This excludes 500 euros to cover the daily cost of the 'healthy biological food' the school provides.

However, since De School integrates day care, parents are entitled to substantial state child care subsidies.

One obstacle still to be overcome concerns the education inspection authority which said in its first report that any school hours taking place between Aug 2 and Sep 2 - obligatory vacation time - would not count toward the legally required annual minimum for each pupil.

Ploegman however believes the authority will 'most likely' change its mind about this: 'After all, deputy secretary of education Sharon Dijksma has repeatedly said the current school calendar is outdated.'