Benidorm launches 'Escuela de tarde' to support family - work balance in June

Marina Baixa Federation of Parent-Teacher Associations (AMPAS), in collaboration with Benidorm City Council's Department of Education, has organised a new edition of the "Afternoon School," a service aimed at children aged 3 to 12. The aim is to facilitate family work-life balance during June, when school hours end at 1:00 p.m. and the school cafeteria ends at 3:00 p.m. This was stated by the Councilor for Education, Maite Moreno, who explained that this "Afternoon School" is "a service very similar to the "Matinera" (Morning School), which offers families the possibility of extending their children's stay at schools between 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m., thus matching the schedule for the rest of the school year."

Maite Moreno explained that, as with other activities and summer schools held in the city throughout the year, the service is provided by the specialized company Trokoló and represents "an alternative to promote work-life balance for many families who, for work, family, or personal reasons, cannot pick up their children before 5:00 p.m., especially in June," when summer school hours are implemented.

The service will be offered at nine schools in the city where there are Parent-Teacher Associations (PMA) and where there is also a Morning School, or there is demand for this Afternoon School, specifically, at Serra d'Aitana, Ausiàs March, Bautista Lledó, El Murtal, Els Tolls, La Cala, Puig Campana, Serra Gelada, and Vasco Núñez de Balboa Primary Schools.

It will be open from June 1st to June 18th, the last day of the school year, and will have two possible pick-up times: the first, from 3:50 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.; and the second, from 4:50 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The Councillor for Education also reported that registration must be completed through the website www.trokolo.com/inscripcionbenidorm/ and that "the deadline to sign up for the service is May 27th."

This school service costs 40 euros per child for families affiliated with the Parents' Association (AMPA) and 55 euros for those not affiliated.

Finally, Maite Moreno stated that "at the City Council, we continue to collaborate with the Marina Baixa Family Association (FAMPA) on these types of initiatives, which provide a respite for many families and help them organise and balance their work life with childcare as best as possible."