What extra language help can my child get outside school?

Terms used

• Profesor particular — A profesor particular is a private tutor who teaches one child or a small group.
• Academia — An academia is a private centre that runs fixed-timetable group classes for children.
• Matrícula — The matrícula is a yearly enrolment fee that many academias charge on top of monthly fees.
• Apoyo escolar — Apoyo escolar is free or low-cost homework and school help for children.
• Servicios sociales — Servicios sociales are the local social services office, which can refer families to free programmes.
• Ayuntamientos — Ayuntamientos are town halls, the local councils that run municipal classes and camps.

Key rules

• Private tutors: Private tutors typically charge €12–€30 per hour in major cities.
• Academias: Academies for children typically charge €40–€100 a month for reinforcement classes.
• Free help: Free homework and Spanish help depends on your town, so ask the school or social services first.
• Summer camps: Pick summer providers with qualified staff that follow your region's rules.

The four options at a glance

Outside school you can choose between a private tutor, an academia, a summer course, or free classes from your town hall or an NGO. Tutors and academias cost money. Municipal and NGO help is often free, but it depends on your town. The comparison below sets them side by side.

Private tutors

A private tutor (profesor particular) teaches one child or a small group, at your home, online or at the tutor's place. You agree the schedule with the tutor, and the lessons are built around your child's gaps.

Private tutors typically charge €12–€30 per hour in major cities. University students and informal tutors sit at the low end. Qualified teachers and specialists, such as exam preparation or native English speakers, cost more. Madrid, Barcelona and Bilbao are dearer. Seville, Valencia, Málaga and smaller cities are cheaper.

A tutor suits a child who needs individual attention, especially a newcomer who has just arrived. You find tutors through online tutoring platforms, classified ads, the school or word of mouth.

Academias

An academia runs group classes at fixed times, usually 6–15 pupils, through the school year from September to June. The content follows a programme or level. You get less personal attention but a lower hourly cost, a clear structure and often a progress report from the teacher.

Academies for children typically charge €40–€100 a month for reinforcement classes. These are usually 2–4 hours a week in small groups. Language classes are in a similar range and usually run 2–3 hours a week in two sessions. Intensive or exam-preparation courses, such as Cambridge or DELE, cost more. Fees are higher in Madrid and Barcelona.

Ask for the full price list before you sign up. Many academias charge a yearly enrolment fee (matrícula) of roughly €20–€60, and sometimes a materials or book fee.

An academia suits routine reinforcement or preparation for a recognised language certificate.

Summer courses

Summer is a good time to catch up, because your child spends whole days in Spanish. Options include:

• Municipal summer camps (campus de verano or colonias urbanas) run by town halls, where your child mixes with Spanish speakers.
• 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.
• Summer reinforcement programmes for newcomers run by some NGOs and regional governments.

Choose a provider with registered, qualified staff. Check that the programme follows your region's rules for leisure education. Prices and dates vary a lot, so ask each provider.

Free municipal and NGO classes

Many town halls (ayuntamientos) offer free or subsidised Spanish classes. Most are for adults, but some run homework help (apoyo escolar) or after-school programmes for children. They often work through social services, libraries, youth centres or partner NGOs. This is fairly common in larger cities and in areas with many immigrants, but not every town has it.

NGOs also help. Cruz Roja runs homework support and Spanish classes for vulnerable and immigrant children through local branches. Cáritas parishes commonly run free homework help and Spanish classes. Other groups include Accem, CEAR, Save the Children, Fundación Secretariado Gitano and local immigrant associations. Fundación "la Caixa" runs CaixaProinfancia, which offers school-support grants and centres.

To find help near you:

1. Ask the school, which can often refer you.
2. Ask your local servicios sociales (social services).
3. Search your town hall's website for "apoyo escolar" or "español para extranjeros".
4. Ask at the local library, youth centre or nearest Cruz Roja or Cáritas branch.

Access is usually through the local branch, social services or a school referral, so start with a call or visit.

Which one to pick

Start with free help if you qualify, since it costs nothing. Add a tutor if your child needs one-to-one attention. Choose an academia for steady weekly practice or a language certificate. The FAQ below covers extra costs and summer questions.

Tutor, academy or free programme: which extra help fits?

Free help is enough for many young newcomers. Paid help makes sense when your child needs faster progress, one-to-one attention or exam preparation.

Tutor

Lessons are fully tailored to your child, and you set the times. University students and informal tutors sit at the low end of the price range. Qualified teachers and specialists, such as exam prep or native English speakers, cost more. Madrid, Barcelona and Bilbao are dearer than smaller cities.

Academy

Group classes cost less per hour but follow a set programme, so there is less personal attention. Many academies also charge a yearly enrolment fee, and sometimes a materials fee, so ask for the full price list. Most follow the school year, from September to June.

Free programmes

Cruz Roja and Cáritas often run free homework help and Spanish classes. Other charities and local immigrant associations do too. To find a place, contact the local branch, your town's social services (servicios sociales) or your child's school. What is available depends on your town, so ask locally.

How to choose

• Start free if your child is young, can follow most of the class, and the school or town offers language support.
• Add paid hours if your child is older with a heavy exam load, has a very low level, or needs exam preparation. Many families combine school support with a few paid hours a week.
• Pick a tutor for one-to-one catch-up and an academy for steady weekly practice.

Whatever you choose, ask for a trial lesson. Check that the teacher has experience teaching Spanish to children who are not native speakers. Ask how the provider reports progress, and whether the schedule and distance work for your family.

Frequently asked questions

Is a private tutor better than an academia for a newcomer child?

Yes, a private tutor is usually better when your child needs one-to-one attention for specific gaps, while an academia suits routine reinforcement. A tutor teaches one child or a small group at home, online or at their place, with a flexible schedule. An academia runs fixed weekly group classes of about 6–15 pupils, with less personalisation but a lower cost per hour.

Are there extra costs on top of the monthly academia fee?

Yes, many academias charge a yearly enrolment fee (matrícula) of about €20–€60, and some add a materials or book fee. Intensive or exam-preparation courses, such as Cambridge or DELE, cost more than regular classes. Fees are higher in Madrid and Barcelona, so ask each academy for its full price list.

How do I find free homework or Spanish help for my child?

Start by asking your local servicios sociales (social services) or your child's school, which can point you to free options. Cruz Roja and Cáritas parishes often run free homework help (apoyo escolar) and Spanish classes, and some town halls run them through libraries or youth centres. Availability varies by town, so you can also search your town hall's website for 'apoyo escolar'.