PRE-SCHOOLS

The childcare system
For families with babies and young children, one of the first considerations upon arriving in Spain is finding quality childcare. Before applying for schools, parents need to find out about government childcare subsidies and daycare funding to make sure that they are receiving the pre-school subsidies they are eligible for. If you live in Barcelona, learn how you can apply for schools in Barcelona.

Support groups
Expats in Barcelona would be happy to know more support groups for expat moms and babies have sprouted in recent years. If you live elsewhere, check out our listings of family clubs and support groups or find the nearest family support and play groups in our A-Z listings. These groups give you a chance to network with other expat parents, discover more facilities and have fun.

Top tips for expat families with young children
With tiny tots, getting out and about is a must. Whether you are in Madrid, Barcelona, Fuerteventura or Marbella, Expatica articles on the Kids section include tips on where to take your little ones to let off steam, such as children’s farms, swimming pools, local play-parks and zoos. If there is water or a beach near you, then head for it – children always love to play in or around water (with a watchful adult close by).

SCHOOLS

Choosing an international school
International schools are often the first option considered by expat parents. Designed to ease the educational transition of a move from one country to another, international schools are a good choice for expat children who are staying temporarily in the host country. Qualifications such as the International Baccalaureate are becoming increasingly popular with people who relocate frequently.

Parents who are sure they will repatriate while their children are of school age need to select an expat school system which allows easy integration of their children into their home-country education system upon return.

However, it might also be worthwhile learning about the offerings of the Spanish education system. Check out our listings of internationals schools in Costa del Sol, Barcelona and Madrid. Can't find it? Go through our A-Z listings for a more comprehensive list of international schools in Spain.

Choosing a local school
However for families planning to settle into a country long-term, international schools might not be the best fit. The national school system could be the most effective path.

There are pro and cons of the Spanish education system, and parents will have to consider factors such as the age of their children and language(s) spoken in the host country before making a selection. This is made more complicated in Barcelona with the addition of the Catalan language in the schooling system. Read Moving to Barcelona with children to find out more about this hotly-debated topic among expats.

State v.s. private schools
After deciding on the type of education, parents will still have to choose between state school, private Spanish school or private international schools.

Picking the right school for your child in Spain will make moving to Spain much easier for your child if he or she encounters difficulty assimilating into the new school’s culture, says expat author Yolanda Solo.

Overall, when the right schooling decisions are made, expats feel that their children benefit from their education abroad; expanding your children’s horizons culturally will aid in developing the intellectual, personal, emotional and social skills children need to live, learn and work in a rapidly globalising world.

Education advice
Professional advice from expat school organisations can help expats arrive at the best solution for their children, or even themselves, should they be seeking to continue higher education. Why not ask Expatica’s education expert Maria Hegarty via our Ask the Expert section?     

Expats who’d like to share their viewpoints or ask advice from ‘veteran’ expats in Spain can also visit Expatica forums and get involved in discussions on education issues.