How can my child prepare for the school language before arriving?

Key rules

• Start early: Start preparing 6–12 months before the move if possible.
• Short and regular: Daily sessions of 15 to 30 minutes beat last-minute cramming.
• Fluency: Your child is not expected to be fluent on arrival; school support completes it over one to two years.
• Cost help: Many town halls offer discounts or grants for low-income families on summer camps.

The summer break is your best window

Spanish schools stop in late June and restart in September. That gap of about two and a half months is the best time to build your child's school-language skills. You can do it through home study, a course, or a mix of both. Your child does not need to be fluent by September. Reception classes and daily school life will do the rest.

When to start

Start 6–12 months before the move if you can. Even 2–3 months of regular practice helps with basic communication. Short, regular sessions work better than cramming: 15 to 30 minutes a day for younger children, more for teens. Teens gain most from extra time, because they have to cope with subject vocabulary.

What to do, by age

• Ages 3 to 6: Spanish songs, cartoons, picture books and simple greetings through play.
• Ages 6 to 11: a language app, short video lessons, graded readers and Spanish shows with subtitles. Online tutoring 2 to 3 times a week works well.
• Teens: structured lessons with an online tutor or a course. Add the alphabet and pronunciation, basic vocabulary for school subjects, and Spanish YouTube and podcasts.

Keep your home language strong at the same time. Also collect school records and translations before you leave.

Is a summer course worth it?

Usually yes, if your child arrives with little or no Spanish. A course builds basic vocabulary, classroom phrases and confidence. The benefit is largest for ages 6 to 14, and when the course is intensive, daily and conversational. It will not replace school support, because fluency takes one to two years. Skip or lighten it if your child already has a basic level, or if the cost or stress would crowd out rest.

Types of summer programme

• Municipal summer camps (campus de verano or colonias urbanas), run by town halls. Your child mixes with Spanish-speaking children.
• Private language and activity camps.
• Residential camps (campamentos), run by organisations or companies.
• Spanish courses for foreign children at language schools, universities and academies in cities such as Salamanca, Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia and Málaga.
• Reinforcement programmes run by some NGOs and regional governments for newcomers.

Choose providers with registered, qualified staff. Check that the programme follows your region's rules for leisure education.

What it costs

Municipal camps are generally the cheapest, and the price often depends on family income. Private day camps and language courses cost more. Residential and international language camps cost the most. Hours, accommodation, excursions and region all push the price up. Many town halls offer discounts or grants for low-income families. Ask the town hall or the provider for current prices.

Check the school's language

In some regions, the local co-official language (Catalan, Basque, Galician or Valencian) is also used in class. Ask the school or regional education department which language model it follows. That may change what your child should practise.

Timing around school start

School runs from September to June, and each region sets its own calendar. Infant and primary classes usually start between about 5 and 12 September. Secondary often starts a few days later or on the same days. Plan to arrive in August or early September, so you have time for enrolment, housing and the school's reception process. Check the exact dates with your regional education department.

The plan below sets out the steps in order, and the resources list has apps, books and media to start with.

Language preparation plan for the summer and first term

Language preparation plan, from months before arrival to the first term

• Start basic Spanish with an app or online tutor, 15 to 30 minutes a day for younger children and more for teens. Read up on your region's school calendar and school languages.: 6–12 months before the move, if possible (earliest 365 days before planned arrival; recommended 270 days before planned arrival; latest 180 days before planned arrival)

• Choose the region and school type. Gather the birth certificate, school records and vaccination records, with apostilles and sworn translations where needed. Ask about validation of studies (homologación) if your child needs it.: 3 to 6 months before the move (earliest 180 days before planned arrival; recommended 135 days before planned arrival; latest 90 days before planned arrival)

• Confirm the school place or enrolment route. Book a summer course or a tutor. Municipal summer camps are usually the cheapest, and many town halls offer discounts for low-income families.: 1 to 3 months before the move (earliest 90 days before planned arrival; recommended 60 days before planned arrival; latest 30 days before planned arrival)

• Arrive, register at the town hall (empadronamiento) and enrol your child. Infant and primary classes usually start between about 5 and 12 September.: in August or early September

• Use the school's reception or language-support classes. If the school offers none, or your child needs more, start a tutor with two to three sessions a week.: in the first weeks of term

• Review your child's progress at the first evaluation and adjust the tutor or support.: around December

Apps, books and media for children learning Spanish or a regional language

Where to find reputable practice material

• Instituto Cervantes and the Ministry of Education's CNIIE: Use their free material for learners of Spanish for home practice

• Your regional education department: Ask for the free material it publishes for newcomer pupils learning Spanish or the regional language, such as reception classroom resources

• Local library (biblioteca municipal): Borrow free picture books, graded readers and children's books in Spanish or the regional language, and ask the librarian for age-matched picks

• Clan, the children's channel of Spain's public broadcaster: Watch children's series in Spanish for listening practice, and for regional languages look for the regional public channel's children's programmes

• A children's language app from a paid or free provider: Use it for vocabulary practice only, and check its current price and age range first. It does not replace talking with teachers and other children.

Frequently asked questions

Is a summer Spanish course worth it before the first term?

Yes, a summer course is generally worth it if your child arrives with little or no Spanish, because it builds basic vocabulary, classroom phrases and confidence. It helps most for ages 6 to 14, and when the course is daily, intensive and conversational. It is less useful if your child already has a basic level, or if the cost or stress would crowd out rest.

What kinds of summer programmes can a newcomer child join in Spain?

Newcomer children can join municipal summer camps (campus de verano or colonias urbanas), private language camps, residential camps, or Spanish courses at language schools and universities. Municipal camps put your child among Spanish speakers.