More than 400 children are participating in the annual Summer School in Benidorm throughout July and August. Organised by FAMPA Marina Baixa in close collaboration with Benidorm City Council’s Education and Social Welfare Departments, the recreational and educational initiative is still open for August registrations.
This year, the Els Tolls Primary and Infant School, situated in the Els Tolls neighbour, is hosting the scheme. The venue changes annually to rotate between different public schools, making the service highly accessible across all areas and helping local parents balance work and family commitments.
The Mayor of Benidorm, Toni Pérez, visited the site yesterday, Wednesday 8th July, alongside the Councillor for Education, Maite Moreno, and representatives from FAMPA Marina Baixa. They met the students, viewed their daily activities, and received an update on progress from service manager David Arias of Trokoló.
A total of 255 children aged 3 to 13 are attending between 9:00 am and 2:00 pm in July. Many utilise extra services, including early and late extended hours or the lunch programme. For August, 147 children are already signed up, with registration remaining open until 15th July. Additionally, eleven pupils are attending two funded special education classrooms across both months. Benidorm City Council completely funds this specialised service to support families with special needs.
Mayor Toni Pérez confirmed that the local authority will invest just over €28,900 this year via the Department of Social Welfare to fund these specialised classrooms. Furthermore, the council has earmarked over €38,000 from the Social Welfare budget to fully subsidise summer school costs and meals for 39 children in July and 35 in August from low-income households. This brings the total social subsidy allocation to more than €67,000.
The Department of Education also provides a flat-rate subsidy covering up to 50% of the cost for children registered as Benidorm residents. This is calculated and paid later based on final numbers, backed by an €18,000 municipal allocation.
Pérez highlighted that the council meets all local demand, stating that the figures demonstrate the suitability of an initiative where children learn through play and shared experiences. With early morning and late afternoon sessions running alongside the lunch service, families are covered from 7:30 am until 4:30 pm. Households can register children for weeks, fortnights, or full months to suit their needs.
The Mayor concluded by noting that the initiative complements other municipal resources running this summer, such as the Educational Support Programme (PAEV), the Youth Department’s Summer Programme, the Youth Summer Camp, summer sports courses, and private sports campuses hosted free of charge in municipal facilities.
