September 2012 - Costa Calida Chronicle

In association with Costa Cálida International Radio and www.angloINFO.com
When a child is born in Spain, it is common
practice for an obstetrician to oversee the
birth. Following the birth, the mother will receive
a health booklet for the baby called a
Cartilla de Salud Infancia y Adolescencia.
If the baby is born at home, the health
booklet can be obtained from the nearest
health centre during the baby’s fi rst visit. The
booklet includes information on vaccinations,
and health and education recommendations
for children from birth to adolescence. There
is also space for the medical centre or practitioner
to sign and stamp the booklet after
examinations or vaccinations.
Toddler Health Care and Benefi ts
Spain has a national health service, Seguridad
Social, fi nanced by social security contributions
and run by the various autonomous
health departments throughout the country.
Residents need a social security number to
qualify for treatment.
The Spanish healthcare system is generally
acknowledged to be very good. Most hospitals
are modern and well-equipped and the doctors
and paediatricians are excellent. However,
do not assume that they will speak much
English even in the resort areas and major
cities. In some areas there will be someone
providing a voluntary translation service to
help with doctor’s appointments. The local
medical centre will advise if such a service
exists.
Day-to-day treatment of childhood ailments is
managed by a General Practitioner (GP). Local
anglophone Embassies and Consulates
can usually provide a list of English-speaking
doctors in an area.
Within the National Health Service a GP may
be assigned by the local medical centre (centro
de salud) – it may not be possible to specify
a preference. Within the private sector the
choice is open. Dental treatment in Spain is
managed within the private sector.
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Medicines and Vaccinations
Medicines are always prescribed by a doctor
using an offi cial prescription and the patient
is required to pay approximately 40% of the
government capped price.
Vaccinations required can vary by year and by
the area of residence.
Children who attend pre-school or private
nurseries are likely to be seen regularly by
medical professionals.
• In an emergency, go to the nearest
accident or emergency hospital
• If necessary, call an ambulance by dialling
112
Social Security Benefi ts
The Spanish Seguridad Social offi ce is responsible
for maternity and childcare benefi
ts. Much of the website has been translated
into English and provides detailed information
on entitlement and how to apply.
Child benefi t is paid for children under 18
years of age (older if the child has a disability)
as long as the place of residence is Spain
and benefi ts are not being claimed elsewhere.
There is a maximum limit on earnings, but
this increases depending on the number of
dependent children. Application must be
made to the local INSS (Instituto Nacional de
la Seguridad Social) offi ce.
Ch ildcare and Pre-primary Education
The overall education in Spain is the responsibility
of the Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia.
Control is managed locally and differs according
to the regional education authority.
Local bodies specify minimum amounts of
educational activity, guidelines for opening
hours, adult/child ratios, basic safety regulations,
and parent/teacher consultations.
Pre-school (escuela infantil)
Pre-school education is available in Spain up
to six years and is divided into two groups:
• up to three years
• from three to six years
This stage is not compulsory, although the
government guarantees there will be suffi -
cient places in state schools to ensure schooling
for those who request it free of charge.
Children usually attend local schools. Normally
there are 20-25 children in each class. Although
traditionally a very family-orientated
society with many mothers staying at home
or sending small children to grandparents
for care, the numbers of children enrolling in
Spanish pre-schools is on the increase.
For most Spanish children, school starts with
nursery or pre-school in the September
they turn three. Compulsory education (escolaridad
obligatoria), begins at six in a primary
school (escuela primaria).
The teaching medium is Spanish at all levels.
Parents who wish their child to be educated in
English will need to look at pre-schools in the
private sector. There are a number of foreign
and international schools in Spain, many with
nursery facilities.
Enrolment
In general, enrolment in a pre-school takes
place in the fi rst half of May, but this may
vary from one province to another. Application
forms can be obtained from the school
itself or from the Education Department,
check with the ayuntamiento of the place
of residence.
The following documents will be required:
• Filled in application form
• Child’s birth certifi cate
• Medical certifi cate and proof of vaccinations
• A certifi cate of registration at the
Town Hall (certifi cado de empadronamiento)
The certifi cado de empadronamiento is issued
by the Town Hall and is the proof that
the child’s family is registered on the Padrón
Municipal des Habitantes, a register of all
the persons living in the town. To obtain the
certifi cate, a utility bill, proof of identity of all
members of the family and a rental contract
or Title of Deeds will be required. The document
is valid for three months.
Childcare in the Private Sector
Childcare in the private sector is available and
in the larger cities and towns there is normally
a good choice of facilities. There are
nurseries (Guarderias or Casas de ninos)
and pre-schools (Escuelas Infantiles). Those
in larger towns and cities frequently have
English and Spanish-speaking staff. It is common
for there to be regular visits from medical
personnel as part of the services on offer.
Meals are usually provided and many schools
place a strong emphasis on healthy eating
from a young age.
It is also common for pre-schools to be registered
with the Ministry of Education or with
the local authorities and to publicise this as a
guarantee of quality.
• As the Spanish can work long hours,
many nurseries stay open into the
evenings all year round. Typical hours
are from 7am-9pm with actual activities
running from 10am-5pm.
• Some nurseries provide bus services
to pick up and drop off children
• It is quite normal to request a visit to
a nursery or facility to look round and
ask questions before enrolling a child
For residents in the resort areas there are often
good facilities within the holiday developments
that are also available to people not
living there. Some resorts are happy to open
their children’ clubs and facilities to non-residents
all year round.
Out and about with toddlers
Children are rarely left at home in Spain so
most places, including restaurants, are used
to catering for them.
Spain has plenty of activities for those with
young children. Again the range of facilities
on offer will depend on location. Most towns
have parks which are generally well maintained
as well as swimming pools and other
facilities.
To fi nd out what is available locally the tourist
offi ce or the online equivalent for the area
is a good source of information. The demand
among non-Spaniards for child friendly activities
means that there are now facilities such
as soft-play areas in some towns and cities.
The Spanish rail network RENFE allows under
three-year-olds to travel free of charge
and under sevens for half-price.
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