Ondara nursery school operated with minimum services during 0-3 education strike

Families in Ondara faced disruptions this week after the municipal nursery school operated under minimum services during the regional strike affecting the 0-3 education sector across the Valencian Community.

The strike, held on Wednesday, May 7, formed part of wider protests by early childhood education professionals demanding better working conditions, lower classroom ratios and more institutional support for one of the most underfunded areas of the education system.

Reduced timetable affected families

The Ondara Town Hall’s Education Department informed families that the Escoleta Infantil Municipal would remain open only during the subsidised timetable established by the Valencian regional government. The centre operated from 9am to 12pm and from 3pm to 5pm, while additional services including the early morning “matinera” programme and school dining service were suspended for the day.

Officials explained that these extra services are funded by the local council rather than the Generalitat Valenciana and therefore were not included in the legally required minimum service provisions during the strike. Families were left to decide whether or not to send their children to the centre under the altered conditions.

Nursery workers demand better conditions

The strike highlighted growing frustration among nursery school educators across the region. Workers and unions have argued that the current system leaves staff overstretched and underpaid, while limiting the quality of care children receive during a crucial developmental stage.

Among the main demands are reduced student-to-teacher ratios, greater public investment, more specialised support staff and the introduction of “educational pairs” in classrooms to improve attention and safety.

The mobilisation formed part of a broader regional campaign pushing for structural reforms in early childhood education, which many professionals say has long been overlooked despite its importance in child development.

Ondara staff had already raised concerns

The situation had already sparked debate locally before the strike took place. Just days earlier, workers from the municipal nursery school addressed the local council during a plenary session, raising concerns about ageing facilities, heavy workloads and emotional exhaustion among staff. The council publicly expressed support for the workers’ demands and pledged to continue advocating for improvements in the sector.

Across Spain, the strike reflected wider tensions within early childhood education. National reports suggested strong participation in the protests, with many educators warning that poor salaries and difficult working conditions are making the profession increasingly unsustainable.

For many parents in Ondara, the day served as a reminder of how dependent families are on childcare services and how disruptions in the sector quickly affect daily life, work schedules and family organisation.