Before-school, after-school and holiday careArticle 2 of 6 · 6 min read
Why school does not solve your childcare gap
School hours and the school year are shorter than a normal working calendar. This page shows the daily and yearly gaps so working parents moving to Spain can plan wraparound care, camps and break programmes.
Key rules
- Summer break: Expect roughly 11 to 12 school-free weeks, with classes ending around 19 to 24 June.
- Regional calendar: Each region sets its own school calendar, so holiday dates depend on where you live.
- Early finish: School ends before a normal working day, so plan afternoon care.
- Teaching days: The school year has at least 175 teaching days.
The short answer
School does not cover a full working day or a full working year. Plan paid or arranged care for the afternoons, the school holidays and the summer. The gap is predictable, so you can book for it ahead of time.
The daily gap
Spanish schools run one of two day patterns.
- Jornada continua: classes run in one block, usually about 9:00 to 14:00 (or 8:30 to 13:30). Many primary schools have moved to this.
- Jornada partida: classes run about 9:00 to 12:30 or 13:00, then a lunch break, then about 15:00 to 16:30 or 17:00.
Secondary schools usually have a continuous morning, about 8:00 to 14:30.
With jornada continua, school ends in the early afternoon, hours before a typical working day finishes. With jornada partida, the midday break is the gap, and the finish is still early for many jobs. In many regions the school community votes on which pattern the school uses. Ask any school you are considering which one it follows.
The yearly gap
The school year starts in early to mid September. It has at least 175 teaching days, and many regions set 175 to 180. That is far fewer days than a working year.
Classes end around 19 to 24 June and restart between about 5 and 15 September. That leaves roughly 11 to 12 school-free weeks. July and August have no classes at all.
Christmas, Easter and local holidays are set by each region, so the dates differ depending on where you live. The timeline below shows the usual pattern through the year.
What bridges the gap
- Wraparound care: before-school and after-school care run by the school or by outside providers. This covers the early start and the afternoon.
- Holiday programmes: short programmes at Christmas and Easter, and on local holidays.
- Summer camps: the main answer for the 11 to 12 free weeks. Many run by the week, so you can mix camps with your own leave or family help.
Ask the school what it offers, then ask your town hall about local programmes. Places can fill up, so ask early.
How to plan
- Find out the school's day pattern and its calendar for the year.
- Mark the school-free weeks against your own leave.
- Book care for each uncovered stretch, starting with summer.
The school-year childcare planner below helps you lay this out. Calendars change every year, so check the current one with the school.
Timeline and deadlines
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School year starts: Between about 5 and 15 September, depending on the region
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School day ends before the working day: Every school day: around 14:00 with jornada continua, or 16:30 to 17:00 with jornada partida
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Christmas, Easter and local holidays: Set by each region each year, so check your school's calendar
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Summer break: July and August are fully free of classes, which is roughly 80 to 85 days in total once the June and September gaps are counted
School-year childcare planner
Book the longest gaps first. Summer needs the most planning, then Christmas and Easter, then the after-school and short-day cover that you need all year.
Exact dates differ by region and sometimes by school. Get your school's calendar as soon as it is published, and check your region's dates with the school office.
The year at a glance
| When the gap happens | What is covered | When to book |
|---|---|---|
| September, before and just after term starts | Some schools run shorter days at the start of term, so mornings or afternoons may be uncovered. | Ask the school about hours and clubs when you enrol, before term begins. |
| All term, every weekday | The gap between school pick-up and your working day. | Sign up for after-school clubs and any early-drop-off or lunch service as soon as the school opens registration. Places can fill. |
| Single days off during term | Local holidays, regional holidays and bridge days around public holidays. | Mark them on your calendar the day you get the school calendar. Line up a back-up person for each. |
| Christmas break | Roughly two weeks without school. | Look for holiday camps or a sitter in the autumn. Make the booking well before the break starts. |
| Easter week | A week or more without school, with dates that move each year. | Check the dates when the calendar comes out, then book camps or cover early in the new year. |
| June, when school days shorten | Some schools finish earlier in the day for the last weeks of term. | Ask the school in spring whether it runs a morning-only schedule and what cover it offers in the afternoons. |
| Summer, from the end of June to early September | The longest gap, around ten weeks. | Start in the spring. Summer camps and school-run summer programmes often fill first, so register as soon as they open. |
What to do and when
- At enrolment: ask the school for its calendar, its daily hours and its list of clubs and extra services.
- As soon as the calendar is out: put every non-school day on one calendar. Mark each as covered, or not yet covered.
- Autumn: book Christmas cover and sign up for after-school clubs for the year.
- Winter: book Easter cover.
- Spring: book summer. Split the ten weeks into blocks and decide who covers each one: a camp, a relative, a sitter, or your own leave. Ask your employer about leave dates early, because everyone wants the same weeks.
- Before each break: confirm every booking and the pick-up arrangements a week ahead.
Things to watch for
- Camps often run for only part of the day, so check the hours against your working day.
- Some clubs and camps ask for payment when you register. Check the cancellation terms before you pay.
- A back-up plan for sick days is worth setting up in September. A child who is ill cannot go to school or a club.
Check exact class dates and registration windows with your school and town hall, as they vary by region and year.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between jornada continua and jornada partida?
Jornada continua is a single morning block, usually about 9:00 to 14:00 or 8:30 to 13:30, while jornada partida has a lunch break in the middle. Partida usually runs about 9:00 to 12:30 or 13:00, then 15:00 to 16:30 or 17:00. Many regions let the school community vote on which one to use, and many primary schools have moved to continua.
What time do secondary school classes finish?
Secondary schools usually have a continuous morning of about 8:00 to 14:30. That still ends well before a normal working day, so older children also need cover in the afternoon.
How many teaching days does the Spanish school year have?
The school year has at least 175 teaching days, which is the national minimum, and many regions set 175 to 180. It starts in early to mid September and runs to around 20 to 25 June. Each region also sets its own Christmas, Easter and local holidays.
More in Before-school, after-school and holiday care
- Morning care (aula matinal) and after-school clubs (extraescolares)
- Who runs school-based care and how to sign up
- Summer camps (escuelas de verano) and covering the long summer
- Covering Christmas, Easter and bridge days (puentes)
- Backup childcare for sick days and sudden closures
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