Support for a child with limited literacy or missed schooling

Key rules

• Beyond language classes: Compensatory education and cultural mediation can be available in addition to language classes.
• Placement: A child with a major schooling gap may be placed one level below their age group.
• Who decides: The school and its orientation team assess your child and set the support.
• Cultural mediator: There is no universal right to one, so ask the school or your town hall.

Programme names, eligibility and mediator availability differ by region and year, so confirm them with your child's school or town hall.

Language classes are not the only help

Children with weak literacy or interrupted schooling may be eligible for compensatory education, and for cultural mediation, on top of any language classes. Compensatory education is extra support for pupils who are socially or educationally disadvantaged. It applies to children in compulsory schooling.

What support can look like

What exists depends on your region. Common options are:

• Language reception classrooms. Names vary: aulas de enlace in Madrid, aulas de acollida in Catalonia, ATAL in Andalusia and PASE in Valencia.
• Reinforcement groups for extra help in core subjects.
• Support teachers who work with your child in or outside the normal class.
• Curricular diversification programmes (PDC), which adapt the curriculum for older pupils who are falling behind.

Ask the school which of these your region offers and which your child could join.

How the school decides

The school decides together with its orientation team. They assess your child's competence, usually in reading, writing and maths, and then set the support. Ask for this assessment in writing if your child has missed a lot of school or writes in a different alphabet.

If there is a major gap in schooling, your child may be placed one level below their age group. This is a possibility, not an automatic right. Ask the school to explain the reasons and how and when your child can move up.

Cultural mediators

There is no universal right to a cultural mediator. Some regions and towns provide one, through the regional education department, the town hall, or NGOs and associations. Examples exist in Catalonia, the Basque Country, Madrid, Andalusia and Navarre. Availability is uneven and often depends on that year's funding.

To ask for one:

1. Speak to the school management or the orientation team. They can request the service.
2. Or go directly to your town hall's social services or immigrant-support service.

The FAQ below covers the most common questions.

Frequently asked questions

Can my child be placed in a lower school year if they missed a lot of schooling?

Yes, a child can be placed one level below their age group if there is a major gap in their schooling. The school decides this with its orientation team, after an assessment of what your child can already do. Ask the school to explain the assessment and what support comes with the placement.

What help exists besides language classes for a child who struggles to read or write?

Pupils with weak literacy or interrupted schooling may qualify for compensatory education, which is extra support for pupils at an educational disadvantage. Depending on your region, this can mean reinforcement groups, support teachers or a curricular diversification programme (PDC). Ask the school's orientation team which of these are offered and whether your child fits.

Does my child have a right to a cultural mediator at school?

No, there is no universal right to a cultural mediator, and availability depends on your region, town and that year's funding. Ask the school management or orientation team to request one.