Does a nursery (escuela infantil) cover a full working day?

Terms used

• Madrugadores — Madrugadores is the early drop-off service some nurseries offer before the normal opening time.
• Comedor — The comedor is the lunch service at a nursery or school.
• Jornada continua — Jornada continua is a school day without a long midday break, usually ending around 14:00.
• Aula matinal — Aula matinal is supervised early-morning care at a school before classes start.

Key rules

• Working day: Nursery hours plus extended services can approximate a full working day, but the extras cost more.
• August: Public nurseries usually close in August, while many private ones open in July and some in August.
• Age three: The free school cycle has a shorter day, with optional paid wrap-around care.

Can a nursery cover a working day?

Yes, if you use the extended hours. A nursery (escuela infantil) usually opens from about 7:30 or 8:00 to 17:00 or 17:30 on weekdays. The core block is often 9:00 to 16:00. Early and late services stretch the day on either side, so together they can come close to a standard office day.

What the extended hours add

Many nurseries offer three extras:

• Early drop-off. This is called "madrugadores" and starts around 7:30 or 8:00.
• Lunch. The comedor serves lunch at the centre.
• Late pick-up. This runs until 17:00 or 18:00.

These usually cost extra, as a monthly supplement or an hourly or daily charge. Typical ranges in 2025 were 15 to 60 euros per month for early drop-off or late pick-up. Lunch was about 4 to 8 euros per day, or 80 to 150 euros per month. Prices vary widely by region and centre, and public centres usually charge less. Ask each nursery for its price list and the latest closing time before you commit.

When nurseries are closed

Nurseries close on national, regional and local holidays, and for Christmas and Easter, following the regional calendar. Public nurseries commonly follow the school year, September to July, and close in August. Many private nurseries stay open in July, and some in August. If you work through the summer, check this first. The FAQ below covers August in more detail.

What changes at age three

From age three, your child moves to the second cycle of infant education. It is free in public and publicly funded schools. It is usually taught in the same schools as primary.

The school day is shorter than a working day, and it depends on the region and school:

• Some have a day of about 9:00 to 17:00 with a midday break.
• Others use a continuous day (jornada continua) of about 9:00 to 14:00. This is common in summer and in regions that have adopted it.
• Some regions use a split day.

Schools usually offer wrap-around care to fill the gap: early-morning care (aula matinal) from about 7:30 or 8:00, lunch in the comedor, and afternoon activities or care until about 17:00 or 18:00. These are normally charged separately, and the details differ by region and school.

What to do

1. List your working hours and commute.
2. Ask nurseries for their opening, closing and extended-hours prices in writing.
3. Ask the school you hope to use at three about its day and its wrap-around care.

Frequently asked questions

Is a nursery open in August?

Public nurseries usually close in August, because they follow the school year from September to July. Many private nurseries stay open in July, and some stay open in August. If you work through the summer, ask each nursery for its calendar before you apply.

How much does early drop-off or late pick-up cost at a nursery?

Early drop-off or late pick-up usually costs roughly 15 to 60 euros per month. Early drop-off is often called madrugadores and starts from about 7:30 or 8:00.

How much does the lunch service cost at a nursery?

The lunch service (comedor) usually costs about 4 to 8 euros per day, or 80 to 150 euros per month. Ask whether the nursery charges by the day or by the month. Public centres are usually cheaper.

What time does the school day end once my child turns three?

It depends on your region, but the day often ends at about 14:00 with a continuous day (jornada continua), or at about 17:00 with a midday break. Early-morning care (aula matinal) from about 7:30 or 8:00 and afternoon care until 17:00 or 18:00 are usually charged separately. Ask the school which schedule it follows.