Early Birds Nursery is the only Special Education facility in Gibraltar which has a limited capacity to cater for the demands of the increasing number of children with special needs in our community. Since 2011, Early Birds has accepted two years olds for this early intervention specialized nursery setting dependent on capacity. The intake is limited and has been offered for this age group of an afternoon basis. These children are very young and these hours do not take their young age into consideration. These times are lunch and napping times for most two year olds this age and this is true of these children too. This early intervention needs to be given in a time which is impactful and effective. Depriving these children of rest, further impacts their behavioral issues which have to be managed at home. We call, as parents have been calling for, for the past ten years, for the morning allocation of these sessions. 
The opening and closing times of Mainstream schooling was changed by the Education Department to meet the demands of working parents. St Martins school was the only school which was not afforded this change. These parents also work and must meet their working demands. We call for the equalization of these hours with the rest of the local schools. These are issues which have been raised before and should have been planned for with the opening of the new Early Birds and St Martins School. 

‘No Child Left Behind!’