Summer arrives, bringing with it the complex question for many families: who will look after the children when the adults are still working? While schoolchildren celebrate the end of term, parents embark on a race against time to adjust schedules, seek support networks, or rely on summer camps and schools until September.
The DANA (storm) of October 29, 2024, still leaves its mark. The absence of municipal swimming pools in Aldaia and Paiporta has forced many families to seek alternatives outside their municipalities, influencing their summer choices.
In Aldaia, the municipal pool remains closed due to severe damage to the purification machinery, affecting the choice of summer schools. One mother explains that, without family help, she depends on summer school with early drop-off ('matinera') services. The pool at Colegio Cremona in Alaquàs has become a decisive factor for enrolling her ten-year-old son, despite the additional cost of 150 euros per month plus the 'matinera' fee.
High temperatures worsen the problem, causing children to suffer excessive heat. Despite the efforts of local councils to expand conciliation options, the availability of places is limited, as the mother recounts, having friends who were unsuccessful in securing a spot in Alaquàs.
In Paiporta, a family of teachers enjoys more flexibility, but the first week of September remains a challenge. The town hall has launched an inclusive summer school with 500 places and a 50% subsidy, but the family opted for a private campus in Alfafar with a pool, also due to the DANA.
Paiporta's municipal pool will remain closed for the entire summer season, awaiting comprehensive rehabilitation that will be coordinated with the sewage system renovation works. Nevertheless, the municipal offer of summer activities is positively valued.
In Mislata, the enrollment process for free summer schools generates "stress" due to competition for places. One father questions the requirement to submit payslips or the previous year's tax return, as the town hall argues it's an obligation derived from a Generalitat Valenciana decree to access regional funds.
Despite the difficulties, when a place is secured, the service in Mislata functions correctly, with workshops and visits to the municipal pool, in addition to the 'matinera' service.
