How childcare differs between Madrid, Barcelona and other regions

Key rules

• Who decides: Regions and town halls set nursery supply, fees, free schemes and calendars, not the national government.
• No national free scheme: No single national scheme makes nursery free for ages 0-3.
• Registration: Free or subsidised places usually require you to be registered in the region and to show income.
• Timing: Applications for next September usually open in spring, between March and June.

Your region sets the rules

Nursery for children aged 0-3 is not compulsory, and no single national scheme makes it free. Each autonomous community (region) runs it, and many town halls run their own municipal nurseries too. So supply, cost, language and calendar depend on where you live.

Public places are scarce in big cities and often oversubscribed. Private nurseries fill the gap.

How the main regions differ

• Madrid: Many private nurseries, plus public ones run by the region and the city. A regional bonus (bonificación) cuts fees if your child holds a place in an authorised centre in the regional network. The amount depends on income and on whether your family lives in the Community. Teaching is in Spanish, often with English.
• Cataluña (including Barcelona): Mostly municipal public nurseries called llars d'infants, with fees set by income bands. Teaching is in Catalan, and Spanish comes later.
• Basque Country: A strong public network, Haurreskolak. You can choose Basque, Spanish or a mixed model. Navarra also has heavily subsidised public nurseries with income-linked fees.
• Galicia: Teaching is in Galician and Spanish. Aids such as Galiña Azul and Bono Concilia exist, and free places for lower-income families have been expanding.
• Valencia and the Balearics: Teaching uses the co-official languages (valenciano or catalán). Free places for ages 2-3 have been expanding.
• Andalucía: A large income-linked bonus system, the Plan de bonificación, with free places for lower-income households and, in recent years, for many other families.
• Murcia, Canarias, Asturias and Castilla-La Mancha: These have extended free or near-free places for ages 2-3.

What free or subsidised places usually require

Expect to need to be empadronado (registered at your address with the town hall) in the region, a child of the right age, and proof of income. Some schemes also ask that both parents work. Schemes and fees are renewed each school year, so check the current conditions before you count on a place.

How to find your own region's rules

1. Search for the education department of your region. It publishes the 0-3 calendar and the application. Madrid's regional site hosts admission to its network and the bonus. In Cataluña, the Departament d'Educació and local councils run the preinscripció. Andalucía uses the Junta's Consejería de Educación. The Basque Country uses Haurreskolak. Galicia uses its Escolas Infantís service. Valencia uses the Conselleria d'Educació.
2. Check your town hall as well. Municipal nurseries, such as Madrid city's escuelas infantiles, often have a separate application.
3. Note the dates early. Applications for the next September usually fall in spring, between March and June. If you arrive later in the year, ask the nursery or town hall about vacancies.

The decision and FAQ below help you choose between options and answer common questions.

Choosing between options

How should you look for an affordable nursery place in your region?

• Apply for a public place with income-based fees: You live in a region like Catalonia, the Basque Country or Navarra, where public networks charge fees by income.

• Apply for a free or near-free place: You live in a region such as Andalucía, Galicia, Valencia or Murcia that offers free places, often from age 2 to 3 or for lower-income families.

• Use a private nursery with a regional bonus: You live in a big city like Madrid where public places are scarce, and the nursery is authorised so you can claim the fee reduction.

Start with your region's education department: it decides which schemes exist, and you usually must be registered there and show your income. If public places are full, choose a private nursery.

Frequently asked questions

Which language will my child hear in a nursery in Catalonia?

In Catalonia, teaching in a public llar d'infants is in Catalan, with Spanish learned later. In Madrid it is in Spanish, often with some English.

Where do I find my own region's nursery application?

Your region's education department website hosts the nursery calendar and application. Many cities, such as Madrid and Barcelona, also run their own for municipal nurseries, so check your town hall as well. Dates are typically spring for the next September.

Do I need to be registered in the region to get a free or subsidised place?

Yes, most regions require you to be registered at an address there (empadronado), and the child must be the right age. You usually also need proof of income, and sometimes both parents must be working. Ask your regional education department for the current rules.