Support for children and young people

There are numerous forms of social support available to help families and parents (or those with parental responsibilities) who are prevented from caring for their children while they work, and to promote children’s personal and social development in a safe and stimulating environment.

Social services and facilities for children and young people should be located in families’ area of residence or nearby, depending on the capacity that the Social Security institutions have.

The information in this section is organised as follows:

• Early childhood intervention
• Childminders
• Family crèches
• Crèches
• Pre-school education
• Free-time activity centres
• Holiday and leisure centres

Children and young people may also be entitled to other Social Security benefits or allowances.

Children up to the age of 3 years from families in the first and second family contribution brackets are entitled to go to crèche and childminders for free. The monthly amount is paid by the ISS provided that the children attend a public crèche or a crèche covered by a cooperation agreement.

Find out more about how to apply for support for children and young people.

You can also check the Social Security Social Charter for information on the services and establishments closest to where you live.

This is a social service offered with a view to ensuring that children with different bodily functions or structures, which limit their personal and social growth and their being able to take part in activities typical for their age, are provided with the right conditions to develop.

This social service consists of providing a childminder who, in their own home, looks after children who are up to 3 years of age or have not yet reached the age when they can attend pre-school, during the time when the parents or those exercising parental responsibilities (family) are working or are not able to provide care.

This social service consists of providing a childminder in an establishment known as a family crèche [creche familiar], for children who are up to 3 years of age or have not yet reached the age when they can attend pre-school, during the time when the parents or those exercising parental responsibilities (family) are working or are not able to provide care.

These are social institutions of a socio-educational nature that welcome children up to 3 years of age, during the time when the parents or person in charge of them are prevented from caring for them.

Pre-school is a social institution provided to assist the development of children from the age of 3 before they start primary school.

These social institutions provide leisure activities for children and young people from the age of 6, during the times when children are free from their schooling responsibilities. Various intervention models are employed, such as monitoring/integration, carrying out specific activities and multi-activities.

This social institution provides leisure facilities aimed at all ages and at families as a whole, offering a break from the routine that is essential for users’ physical, psychological and social well-being.

Children and young people who benefit from this type of support pay a fee for the service provided – family contribution – which is calculated on the basis of their household’s income.