111 local kids return to nurseries, new Sant Ferran facility opens doors

foto 2021 inici escoleta CThe Formentera Office of Education is pleased to report that, as early learning centres reopened across the island today, 111 one to three year olds —28 in Sant Ferran and 83 at Escoleta Sa Miranda in Sant Francesc— joined 23 teachers, instructional aides and administrators, together with kitchen and cleaning staff, in kicking off the 2021/22 school year.

New nursery in Sant Ferran
Opening its doors today, the new Sant Ferran escoleta boasts one classroom for one to two year olds and another for two to three year olds — a need that was previously met by Escoleta des Camí Vell, which opened provisionally pending construction of the new centre. The building contains six classrooms, with plans to employ the remaining four as needs grow.

The IBISEC-prepared project involved constructing the escoleta on a lot adjacent to Sant Ferran’s brand-new primary school, a building designed to accomodate 450 pupils and two groups per year (two year-one groups, two year-two groups, etc.) and contains 6 classrooms for pre-primary education (three to six year olds) and 12 rooms for primary education (six to twelve years olds). The centre sits on a 11,037 m2 plot on the outskirts of town.

Investment in the project totalled €1,118,000.

Culture chief Susana Labrador expressed satisfaction that the two “hotly anticipated” schools were opening doors at last. She insisted that school and nursery staff, personnel of the Formentera Office of Island Services and cleaning and kitchen workers had been key to getting the buildings up to snuff in time for September.

“We’ve opted to expand coverage to take in more children. The fact is, the zero-to-three stage of development demands quality facilities and instructors. With the opening of this new school and the creation of new teaching positions, we’re making progress on the framework document that local government adopted to support educational equity for zero to three year olds.

Hours, services and public health protocols
The schools operate from 7.30am to 2.30pm, a timetable which includes early drop-off at nurseries, classtime and lunch.

Entry and exit to the schools will be staggered and health and safety restrictions respected in full.

13 September 2021
Communications Office
Consell de Formentera