Starting School in Spain
Enrol your child mid-year, ask about hours, lunch and support, and meet the school before day one.
Places in Spanish state schools are assigned by address, so you'll need your certificado de empadronamiento; families arriving mid-year enrol 'fuera de plazo' through the local admissions committee. Ask about comedor (school lunch), early-morning acogida, extraescolares and the AMPA, the parents' association. The cards follow one enrolment from the school office to a tour with the head of studies.
- 1
Quería matricular a mi hijo en el colegio.
I'd like to enrol my son at the school.
- 2
¿Qué colegio me corresponde por mi domicilio?
Which school are we assigned for our address?
- 3
Acabamos de llegar, es fuera de plazo.
We've just arrived, so it's after the deadline.
- 4
¿Quedan plazas en primero?
Are there any places left in first year?
- 5
¿Hace falta el certificado de empadronamiento?
Do you need the certificate of registration?
- 6
Todavía no habla mucho español.
He doesn't speak much Spanish yet.
- 7
¿Hay algún apoyo para niños que no hablen español?
Is there any support for children who don't speak Spanish?
- 8
¿A qué hora entran y salen?
What time do they start and finish?
- 9
¿Tiene servicio de comedor?
Is there a school lunch service?
- 10
¿Y hay acogida por las mañanas?
And is there early-morning care?
- 11
¿Los niños llevan uniforme?
Do the children wear a uniform?
- 12
¿Quién va a ser su tutora?
Who's going to be his class teacher?
- 13
¿Los libros de texto son gratis?
Are the textbooks free?
- 14
¿Qué extraescolares tenéis?
What after-school activities do you have?
- 15
¿Podríamos ver el cole antes?
Could we see the school first?
- 16
Está un poco nervioso por empezar.
He's a bit nervous about starting.
- 17
¿Puedo quedarme con él el primer día?
Can I stay with him on the first day?
- 18
Es alérgico a los frutos secos.
He's allergic to nuts.
- 19
¿Cómo me apunto al AMPA?
How do I join the parents' association?
- 20
¿Y por dónde nos avisáis de las cosas?
And how do you let us know about things?