Frequently Asked Questions

Enrolment is done online through the Amigos dos Pequeninos enrolment platform at app.amigosdospequeninos.com/matriculas. You fill in the details of the child and of the parent or guardian, upload the documents (or hand them in at the office), and our team reviews the application and contacts you with the next steps. You can also start the process in person at our office in Largo 1.º de Maio, Silves.

You will need the Citizen Card (Cartão de Cidadão) of the child and of the parents or guardians, the parents' tax number (NIF), the up-to-date digital vaccination record, a medical certificate confirming the child is fit to attend, proof of address, proof of household income, the IRS tax return or tax assessment, the child benefit band (escalão de abono de família), the last 3 payslips and the property summary (resumo predial) of both parents issued by the Tax Portal (Portal das Finanças). An application can only go ahead once all the mandatory documents have been submitted.

Yes. Enrolment is open for the Nursery (Creche), Pre-school and the after-school centre (C.A.T.L.). Re-enrolment is open for children in the Parque P1A, P1B and P1C rooms: to re-enrol, choose the relevant service and then «Renovação» (renewal) on the form. Conditional enrolment is also open for 5-year-olds, by choosing «Pré-Escolar» on the form.

Availability depends on the service and on the age group at the time of application. The Nursery has capacity for 121 children, the Pre-school for 138 and the C.A.T.L. for 100. Once you submit the application, our team reviews it and lets you know whether a place is available; for an immediate answer you can call 282 440 120.

The Nursery (Creche) accepts children from 4 months up to 3 years old. The Pre-school (Jardim de Infância) welcomes children aged 3 to 6, the after-school centre (C.A.T.L.) is for school-age children from 6 years old, and Early Childhood Intervention (I.P.I.) supports children aged 0 to 6.

The institution is open from 7:45 am to 7:00 pm on weekdays for the Nursery, the Pre-school and the C.A.T.L. The Early Childhood Intervention team works from 8:30 am to 6:30 pm. The office is open from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm until the 10th of each month; after that date, it works by appointment.

We are at Largo 1.º de Maio, 8300-116 Silves, in the Algarve. Our phone number is 282 440 120 and our email is secretaria@amigosdospequeninos.com.

Children can take part in English, Gymnastics, Water Familiarisation (Adaptação ao Meio Aquático), Yoga, Capoeira, Karate, Falar a Brincar (speech through play) and Development through Movement. Activities are organised by age group and are part of the institution's educational project.

The current menu is published on the Menu page of the website and is updated regularly. For questions about allergies, intolerances or special diets, please contact our office on 282 440 120.

The C.A.T.L. is open after school and during the school holidays, with recreational, sports and arts activities. The institution's annual closing periods are set out in the Internal Regulations (Regulamento Interno) and are communicated to families in advance.

There is no single fee. As an IPSS with a cooperation agreement with the State, the family contribution is calculated according to the household's income per person, under the rules that apply to IPSS institutions. To find out the amount in your case, hand in your proof of income and IRS tax return at our office or call 282 440 120.

No. I.P.I. Bem Crescer is completely free for families, because it is part of SNIPI, the National Early Childhood Intervention System (Sistema Nacional de Intervenção Precoce na Infância).

You can allocate part of your IRS income tax to the institution at no cost to you, become a member, volunteer, or support us as a partner or sponsor. We are a non-profit IPSS and all support goes to the children and families we work with.

I.P.I. Bem Crescer is the institution's Early Childhood Intervention team, working with children aged 0 to 6 who have changes in body functions or structures, or who are at risk of developmental delay, and with their families. Support is free, provided by a multidisciplinary team in the child's everyday settings, and access is through a referral to SNIPI, which can be made by the parents, the doctor, the nursery or the pre-school.

The Vitality Health & Family Care therapy centre offers speech therapy, psychology, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, a therapy pool and paediatrics. The services run on the institution's premises in Silves.

It is a non-profit Private Social Solidarity Institution (Instituição Particular de Solidariedade Social, IPSS) with public interest status, founded in December 1951 in Silves. It does not belong to the State or to any profit-making private body: it is run by elected governing bodies and funded through cooperation agreements, family contributions and grants.

Yes. The pre-school establishment holds Operating Licence no. 370 (Autorização de Funcionamento n.º 370), issued by AGSE, I. P., under Decree-Law no. 152/2013 of 4 November (Decreto-Lei n.º 152/2013). The document is publicly available on the website.

Yes. The institution makes its premises available for birthday parties, with space and facilities designed for children. Bookings and conditions are arranged with our office.

Suggestions and complaints can be sent through the form on the website or through the electronic Complaints Book (Livro de Reclamações). To report irregularities there is a dedicated Whistleblowing Channel (Canal de Denúncias), which allows anonymous reports and lets you check the status of your case, under whistleblower protection law.