Backup childcare for sick days and sudden closures

Key rules

• Fever rules: There is no national fever limit; your child's region and school set the exclusion rules.
• Who decides: You decide first whether a sick child stays home, and the school can call you to collect them.
• Medical certificate: Schools generally cannot require a medical certificate for your child to return.
• Pickup form: The school releases your child only to adults named on its authorised-pickup form.

Exclusion rules and sitter rates vary by region and city, so check your region's school health guide and current local rates.

Set up your fallback before you need it

A sick morning or a sudden closure usually gives you an hour's notice. Decide now who takes the child, who can collect them from school, and who you can pay to step in. The checklist below covers the school paperwork and the sitter shortlist.

When a child must stay home

Spain has no single national fever limit for school. Each region's public health service sets its own exclusion rules, usually in a school health guide. Look up the guide for your child's region, and ask the school for its own version.

Typical rules look like this:

• A child with fever, vomiting or diarrhoea stays home until symptom-free. Often that means 24 hours after the fever ends.
• Some illnesses have set exclusion periods or need treatment first. These include scarlet fever, chickenpox, conjunctivitis with discharge, impetigo and head lice.
• Public health authorities can order exclusion during an outbreak.

You decide first whether your child goes in. The school can phone you to collect a child who seems ill, so a prepared pickup plan matters. The paediatrician advises on anything unclear. Schools generally cannot require a medical certificate for your child to return.

Who collects your child

The school will only release your child to adults on its authorised-pickup form. Add your backup adults before the day you need them. The checklist below lists what to hand in.

Leave from work

Working parents may have leave rights when a school-age child is sick. Check your entitlement with your employer or the labour authorities. This page does not cover those rights.

Paid sitters (canguros)

A paid sitter is the third layer of your plan, after school pickup and any family help.

• Rates are higher in Madrid, Barcelona and other large cities, and lower in smaller towns.
• Independent sitters, often students, usually charge less than agencies. Agencies and booking platforms add a margin or fee.
• Expect higher rates for several children, evenings, nights, holidays, or skills such as English.
• Check current rates on local platforms or with agencies before you need one.

A sitter who works regularly in your home must be registered as a domestic worker with Social Security. Many families pay occasional sitters in cash. Ask a labour adviser which category your arrangement falls into.

Meet your shortlisted sitters once while nothing is wrong, so the first call is not a stranger on a sick day. The FAQ below has more on exclusion rules and sitter costs.

Backup childcare checklist

• Ask the school secretaría (the school office) for its authorised-pickup form (autorización de recogida) and its emergency contact form.

• List each adult who may collect your child on the pickup form, with their name, DNI or NIE number, phone number and relationship to your child.

• Sign the pickup form as parent or legal guardian and hand it in to the school.

• Tell each authorised adult to carry photo ID, because the school will ask to see it at pick-up.

• Give the school two or more alternative emergency contacts, with phone numbers, besides yourselves.

• Give the school your child's health card (tarjeta sanitaria) or private insurance details, the paediatrician or health centre, and any allergies, conditions, medication or special diets.

• Find out how the school handles a one-off change, such as a signed note, email or the school app, because phone-only requests are usually refused.

• Shortlist two or three possible sitters (canguros), such as a student sitter, a sitting agency or a trusted neighbour, and ask each about availability on short notice.

• Compare sitter rates for your city, and ask about extra charges for several children, evenings, nights or holidays.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a national fever limit that keeps a child home from school in Spain?

No, Spain has no single national fever limit for keeping a child home from school. Each region's public health service sets its own rules, usually in a school health guide. A common rule is staying home with a fever of about 37.5 to 38°C or above, vomiting or diarrhoea, often until 24 hours after the fever ends.

Who decides whether my sick child stays home from school?

You decide first, as the parent. The school can call you to collect a child who seems ill, and public health authorities can order exclusion during an outbreak.

Do illnesses like chickenpox or head lice need a longer time at home?

Yes, illnesses such as scarlet fever, chickenpox, conjunctivitis with discharge, impetigo and head lice have set exclusion periods or need treatment before your child returns. Ask your paediatrician or the school for your region's exact rules.

How much does a babysitter (canguro) cost per hour in Spain?

Rates vary widely, and they are higher in Madrid, Barcelona and other large cities than in smaller towns. Independent sitters, often students, usually charge less than agencies, which add a fee. Rates also rise for several children, evenings, nights, holidays or English-speaking sitters.

Do I need to register a regular babysitter with Social Security?

Yes, a regular sitter you employ in your home must be registered as a domestic worker with Social Security. Many families pay in cash for occasional help, but regular work needs registration.