Matching childcare to your work pattern and budget

Key rules

• Public places: Public nurseries cost much less than private ones but places are scarce, so apply early.
• Closures: Most nurseries close in August, at Christmas and at Easter, so arrange cover for those weeks.
• Extras: Meals, extended hours and enrolment are often charged separately from the monthly fee.
• Flexibility: Part-time or hourly care is mostly found in private nurseries or with childminders.

Start with your hours and your child's age

Most nurseries take children from around 4 months, when paid maternity leave ends, up to age 3. Public nurseries typically run about 9:00 to 17:00, with early and late extensions. Private ones may open earlier and close later. If your working day is longer than that, you need an option with extended hours, or a second adult to fill the gap.

Compare the options

Public nursery (escuela infantil). It costs much less than private, but places are scarce. Fees are set by region or council and often depend on family income, so they differ even between neighbouring towns. Check admission rules, waiting lists and the application calendar early.

Private nursery. It costs considerably more. Madrid, Barcelona and Bilbao are at the top end, while smaller cities and inland areas are cheaper. A regional bonus may cut the cost, so ask your regional education office. Private nurseries are also where you will most often find part-time or partial-month places.

Nanny or childminder (madre de día). These are the most flexible options for hourly, part-time or irregular hours. They also help if your child's age or your shifts do not fit a nursery.

Family help. Grandparents are a major source of care in Spain. Roughly a third or more of children under 3 are looked after by them at least sometimes, and more for after-school and holiday care. School hours and calendars often assume someone can cover early drop-offs, gaps in the school day and long holidays. If you have no family nearby, plan paid cover for these gaps from the start.

Budget: ask for the full price

Nursery fees are usually paid monthly for 11 or 12 months. Meals, extended hours and enrolment are often charged on top. Cost also depends on full-day or part-time attendance and on your child's age. Ask each nursery for its total monthly price with everything you need included, and confirm current figures with the nursery and your regional or local education office.

Closures

Most nurseries close in August and at Christmas and Easter. Some offer summer care. Work out who looks after your child on those days before you commit, whether that is family, a nanny or a holiday programme.

Language goals

Decide whether you want the regional language, Spanish, or a bilingual or international programme. Nurseries differ a lot here, so ask which language the staff use day to day.

Check before you choose

• Distance from home or work.
• Meals and the adaptation period for new children.
• Staff ratios.
• That the centre is authorised by the regional government.

Use the decision tool below to narrow your options. The timeline and FAQ below cover when to start and common questions.

Which childcare option fits your family

Which childcare option fits your child's age, your working hours and your budget?

• Public nursery (escuela infantil): Your child is under 3 and you can plan ahead. It is the cheapest option, with fees often scaled to income, from tens to a few hundred euros a month. Apply between March and June for a September start, so start looking 6 to 12 months ahead. Apply through your region's education department or your town hall, usually on an online portal. Places are awarded by points (siblings, income, both parents working, living or working nearby), and you will need proof of registration at the town hall (empadronamiento), income and work certificates.

• Private nursery: You need a place outside the main window or want longer hours. It costs several hundred euros a month, more in Madrid, Barcelona and Bilbao. Enrolment is open all year, but popular ones fill early, so book months ahead. Meals, extended hours and enrolment are often extra.

• Nanny: You work shifts, part-time or long days and want care at home. It costs the most for a full day, less if you share a nanny with another family. You become an employer: you register yourself and the nanny with the Seguridad Social before work starts, give a written contract (needed for 4 weeks or more), pay at least the minimum wage with two extra payments a year, and pay monthly contributions. You also owe 30 days of paid holiday a year, a weekly rest, and a settlement when the job ends. To end the job without a fault by the nanny, give 20 days' notice after a year of work (7 days before that) plus 12 days of pay per year worked. Many families use a payroll adviser (gestoría) for the paperwork.

• Childminder (madre de día) or family help: You want a small group or hourly flexibility. Registered childminders exist only in some regions, such as Cataluña and the Basque Country, and cost about the same as or slightly less than a private nursery. Relatives cost nothing but need to fit your hours.

• Free school place from age 3: Your child is 3 or older. Public and state-subsidised schools are free, with extra charges for meals, extended hours and activities. Early-morning and afternoon services cover full-time working days.

• No place free when you arrive: You arrive mid-year or miss the window. Join the waiting list at several nurseries and ask your education department or town hall about vacancies, since late arrivals can apply outside the main window. Cover the gap with a private nursery paying monthly, a temporary nanny or au pair, a childminder, an hourly baby room (ludoteca), relatives or staggered leave. Check regional nursery grants and tax deductions for under-3s. For ages 3 and over, the school admissions office assigns a place.

Under 3 with time to plan: apply to public nurseries and keep a private nursery or nanny as backup. Irregular hours: choose a nanny or flexible nursery. Age 3 or over: use a free school place with extended-hours services.

Timeline and deadlines

• Compare hours, age, budget, language and closures for each option: 6 to 12 months before the September start

• Ask nurseries for their full price, including meals, extended hours and enrolment: while you compare, before you apply

• Check closures and arrange cover for August, Christmas and Easter: before you accept a place

• Pay nursery fees monthly: each month for about 11 or 12 months of the year

Check current fees and dates with the nursery and your regional or local education office.

Frequently asked questions

Can grandparents cover the gaps that nursery or school leave?

Yes, many Spanish families rely on grandparents for early drop-offs, school-day gaps and holidays, and school calendars often assume this. School holidays are longer than normal working leave, so plan who covers them. If no relative lives nearby, price a private nursery with extended hours or a nanny.

Which nursery costs are lower and which are higher?

Public nurseries cost much less than private ones, and the price in private nurseries is highest in big cities like Madrid, Barcelona and Bilbao. Smaller cities and inland areas are cheaper. Full-day places cost more than part-time ones, and a regional bonus may reduce what you pay.

What if I need part-time or hourly care?

Part-time, hourly or partial-month care is mostly found in private nurseries or with childminders. Public nurseries tend to run set hours, about 9:00 to 17:00, with early and late options. Ask each centre what it offers before you choose.