Free guide · Level B1
Enrolling your child in a school or nursery in Spain: vocabulary and phrases
Enrolling your children is one of the first things you do if you settle in Spain with a family, and it has its own vocabulary, deadlines and sometimes a waiting list. This guide doesn't tell you what the admission rules are in your region, because they change. It teaches you what to ask and how to understand the answers.
The words of the school system
- →La escuela infantil (or guardería): for children aged 0 to 3 (a nursery).
- →El colegio: the school for children of about 3 to 12 (pre-school and primary).
- →El instituto: the secondary school, from age 12.
- →La plaza and la lista de espera: a free place at a school, and the list of those waiting for one.
- →La consejería de Educación: the education department of your autonomous community; it sets the deadlines.
Watch out for thisIn English a «college» is a university-level or sixth-form institution, but in Spain «colegio» is a school for younger children, and «instituto» is the secondary school. «Guardería» is the everyday word for nursery; the official name is «escuela infantil».
Enrolling: what to ask
Quería información sobre la matrícula para el próximo curso.I'd like information about enrolment for next school year. To ask for information
¿Cuándo es el plazo de admisión?When is the admission period? To find out the dates
¿Qué documentos tengo que presentar con la solicitud?Which documents do I have to submit with the application? To ask for the list
Necesito que me informen del plazo de mi comunidad.I need you to tell me the deadline in my region. «Necesitar que» + subjunctive: «que me informen»
Si no hay plaza, ¿me ponen en lista de espera?If there's no place, do you put me on a waiting list? To find out what happens if there's no place
Talking to the teacher
Quería pedir una tutoría con la tutora de mi hijo.I'd like to book a meeting with my son's teacher. To ask for an individual appointment
¿Cómo va en clase?How is he doing in class? To ask about progress
Me preocupa que no entienda las explicaciones.I'm worried he doesn't understand the explanations. «Me preocupa que» + subjunctive: «que no entienda»
¿Hay algún programa de apoyo para aprender español?Is there any support programme for learning Spanish? To ask about language support