In association with <strong>Costa</strong> 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. Page 82 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 <strong>September</strong> 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. Information provided by Anglo Info Please tell our customers where you saw their advertisement in the <strong>Costa</strong> Cálida <strong>Chronicle</strong> To place an advertisement with us please see page 4 or contact Teresa 619 199 407 www.costacalidachronicle.com email: costacalidachronicle@gmail.com
Please tell our customers where you saw their advertisement in the <strong>Costa</strong> Cálida <strong>Chronicle</strong> To place an advertisement with us please see page 4 or contact Teresa 619 199 407 www.costacalidachronicle.com email: costacalidachronicle@gmail.com Page 83 In association with <strong>Costa</strong> Cálida International Radio and www.angloINFO.com