Childcare and nursery schools in Spain

Nurseries (escuelas infantiles or guarderías) receive children from about four months to three years, full or part time, and provide educational activities, play, meals and naps.

• They are run by town halls and regions or the private sector or cooperative associations.
• From three to six the kindergarten (segundo ciclo de infantil) is provided in primary schools free in public and subsidised schools.
• There are home babysitters (canguros), au pairs, play centres (ludotecas) and family centres.
• And many schools offer aula matinal, that is morning care before school, and a comedor and extracurricular activities after it. Choose according to the child's age, your work and your budget.

Public nurseries of the regions and town halls have an annual registration period often between March and May for the next year, and seats are distributed by points according to income, parents' work, proximity, siblings and family circumstances, and you may wait on a waiting list.

• It is preferable to register during pregnancy or early.
• For private nurseries registration is possible all year when seats are available.
• Look for places via your town hall or region's website or the Guía de escuelas infantiles.
• Visit places, talk to the educators and check the official licence (autorización).
• And ask about opening hours, number of children in the class, educator ratio, illness rules, meals and allergies.
• And tell the nursery about dietary and religious restrictions.

Fees differ greatly: free or at a symbolic amount in some regions (such as public nurseries in some regions for low-income families), from one hundred to more than three hundred euros a month in public ones, and more in private, and meal fees may be added.

• Families get direct grants from regions and town halls for the nursery (such as the cheque guardería) by income, and in some regions there is free education from one or two years.
• Working mothers have the right to a tax deduction (deducción por maternidad) up to one thousand two hundred euros a year for each child under three, with an increase for nursery costs, provided the nursery is registered and the mother is active.
• Ask the nursery and town hall about what is available, and keep invoices.

Nurseries are subject to licensing and inspection by the autonomous community, and the law sets the ratio of educators to children (one educator for eight children in older classes, and fewer in younger ones), qualifications, spaces and safety.

• The settling-in period (período de adaptación) lasts about two weeks with gradual increases in the child's time, and one parent may sometimes be asked to be present.
• The nursery communicates with you via an app or daily notebook about the child's sleep, food and activity.
• Periodic parents' meetings are available.
• If you have comments talk to the director first, then the school council or the inspection service.
• And some nurseries respect halal and religious restrictions at your request.

The paediatrician (pediatra) at the health centre follows the child's growth and gives free vaccinations according to the national schedule, and some regions do not require proof of vaccination to enter nursery but it is strongly recommended and the institution may request it. A child with fever or contagious illness does not attend, and the educator is told the symptoms.

• One of the parents has the right to a daily breastfeeding hour (lactancia) until nine months, and a reduction of working hours to care for the child (reducción de jornada) until twelve, and unpaid care leave.
• Maternity protection prevents dismissal during pregnancy and leave.
• And help is offered to large families (familia numerosa) with discounts on services.
• Ask your employer and health centre.

From what age is early education free in public schools?