Parents in Escaldes-Engordany Launch Petition for Better Nursery Staff Ratios

Parents of children enrolled in the communal nurseries in Escaldes-Engordany are planning a petition drive to urge the Department of Social Affairs to revise regulations on child-to-educator ratios. They argue the current ratios are too high and the overall service fails to meet children's needs adequately.

The initiative follows a meeting held on Thursday afternoon at Nursery 1 in the Escaldes parish. Several parents expressed frustration over high staff turnover among educators, which they say harms the children. One educator reportedly explained during the session that she was resigning due to difficulties balancing work and family life in Escaldes.

The gathering had anticipated the attendance of Maria Carriço, the councillor for Childhood, but she was absent due to illness. Some parents described this as unacceptable and demanded a meeting with her within 15 days, claiming she had previously delayed responses by citing the start-of-term schedule. They noted that the session had not been called until Thursday, despite initial expectations.

Parish sources confirmed Carriço's unwell state and stated there were no issues with arranging a follow-up. They added that such meetings typically occur between December and January, placing this one within the usual timeframe.

Families highlighted the disruption caused by frequent educator changes. Parish officials explained the departing educator had secured a position at a similar centre in her home parish, easing her personal commitments. They acknowledged staff turnover as a widespread issue across nurseries, noting that complaints are recurrent but not always justified.

The parish emphasised it is listening to families' concerns and will seek improved solutions where possible.