Families with 61 children use the 'Easter School' in Benidorm to help them balance work and family life during the holidays

Families with 61 children between the ages of 3 and 12 have enrolled their children this year in Benidorm's Easter School, a resource promoted annually by the Local Association of Parents' Associations in collaboration with the Department of Education to facilitate work-life balance for families during the Easter school holidays. The city's mayor, Toni Pérez, and the councillor for the department, Maite Moreno, recently visited the Ausiàs March public school, where the 'Easter School' is taking place, to greet the instructors and the children using the service, hear their impressions, and find out how they are enjoying their time.

Moreno pointed out that “within the municipal resources and services aimed at promoting work-life balance, and as we have been doing during school holidays such as summer, the first week of September, and Christmas, we have once again launched this ‘Easter School’ to give families who work during Holy Week the option of having their children, aged 3 to 12, in a safe space where they can participate in educational and recreational activities during the morning, always accompanied by professionals and with children of the same age.”

The Councillor for Education specified that this year, 61 students have enrolled to participate in this ‘Easter School,’ “a very similar number to those who registered last year.” 24 students are in preschool, and 34 are in primary school. The school program began on April 2nd and will run until next Monday, the 13th.

The dynamics of Benidorm as a tourist destination mean that certain economic sectors experience their peak activity during school holidays, "and therefore, the need for work-life balance is greater than at other times of the year," the councilwoman noted. For this reason, "it is essential to offer families resources so they can balance work and family life during these key periods of the year, and given the positive response from users, we will continue working along these lines from the local government."

This service, which takes place each year at a different school, runs from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., although families can also opt for an early drop-off starting at 8:00 a.m. and a lunch service with a packed lunch from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. In both cases, this extended-hours option is included in the general price of the program, so "we offer a wide range of options to best meet the needs of each family."

Likewise, as has been the case for several years, places are also available for children with special needs, "thus reinforcing our commitment to inclusion and integration in all areas and for all ages." This year, three students with special needs have enrolled. Moreno concluded by thanking the families "for their trust in this service, which motivates us to continue organising more editions of these holiday programs," and also thanking Trokoló, the company responsible for managing this resource.