Who gets newcomer language support, and for how long?

Terms used

• ESO — ESO is compulsory secondary education in Spain, for ages about 12 to 16.
• Departamento de orientación — The departamento de orientación is the school's guidance team, which assesses pupils and proposes support.
• ATAL — ATAL is Andalusia's newcomer language support, delivered by a specialist teacher.
• Aulas de Enlace — Aulas de Enlace are Madrid's newcomer classes for pupils who need intensive Spanish before joining the ordinary class.
• Refuerzo educativo — Refuerzo educativo is extra teaching support that helps a pupil keep up in the ordinary class.
• PROA+ — PROA+ is a state-funded programme of guidance, support and enrichment for pupils, run with the regions.

Key rules

• Duration: Newcomer language support is usually one school year, and in many regions it can be extended to a second year.
• Region: Arrival windows, ages, tests and maximum length all differ by region.
• Assessment: The school's initial test of Spanish and prior schooling decides placement, grade and hours of support.
• After support: Your child moves to the ordinary class with other help, so ask the school what it will be before support ends.

Who qualifies

Newcomer language support is for children who have recently joined the Spanish school system and do not yet know enough Spanish to follow lessons. Four things decide access:

• Arrival timing. Support is meant for recent arrivals. Many regions set the window at under 12 months in Spain, and some allow up to 2 years.
• Age. It covers compulsory education: primary and ESO, roughly ages 6 to 16.
• Tested level. Your child needs a language gap that shows up in the school's assessment.
• School resources. Whether a place exists depends on what your school or area has. In Madrid, for example, the Aulas de Enlace take pupils with a serious Spanish deficiency, mostly in ESO and upper primary.

The details differ by region, so ask the school or your regional education department which window and ages apply to you.

How the level is tested

When you enrol, the school assesses your child's Spanish and prior schooling. This is usually run by the head of studies together with the guidance team (the departamento de orientación). Regions use their own tests and staff. In Madrid, guidance teams give oral and written Spanish tests. In Andalusia, the ATAL teacher does it.

The result decides your child's placement, grade and hours of support. The steps for asking for a place are in the process below.

How long support lasts

Support is time-limited: usually one school year, and in many regions it can be extended to a second year. Some programmes are shorter. Madrid's Aulas de Enlace usually keep pupils about 6 to 12 months before they move to the ordinary class. Your region's education rules set the exact maximum, so ask the school for the end date in writing.

What happens afterwards

Your child stays in the ordinary class and gets other help, depending on the region and school:

• Refuerzo educativo: extra teaching support in core subjects.
• Adapted work, small groups or split classes (desdobles).
• PROA+: a state-funded programme of guidance, support and enrichment, run with the regions.
• Further help from the guidance team if difficulties continue.

Ask the school before support ends which of these your child will get, and ask for a progress review before the end date. The checklist and FAQ below give the questions to ask.

How to request newcomer language support at a school

• Enrol your child, either through your region's admissions process or directly at the school's secretaría (the school office): At any point in the school year; newly arrived pupils can enrol throughout the year

• Meet the orientation team (departamento de orientación) and the tutor, who assess your child's Spanish level and earlier schooling, sometimes with an initial test: Right after enrolment

• The school decides your child's grade, normally by age, or one year lower if there is a serious gap in schooling: After the assessment

• The orientation team proposes a place in language support, such as an aula de enlace, ATAL or in-class reinforcement, depending on your region: Once the assessment is done, often within the first weeks

• The director approves the placement and assigns resources; where required, the regional education department or inspección authorises the place or teacher: After the proposal

• Your child attends the support group part-time and the ordinary class for the rest, with progress reviewed each term until fully in the ordinary group: Each term; the length of support is explained in the article on eligibility and duration

• If the school does not offer support or you disagree, ask the director for the school's plan, then ask the inspección or the regional admissions service to confirm in writing: If support is refused or delayed

Checklist

• Ask the school when your child's initial language and prior-schooling assessment will take place.

• Ask who runs the assessment, such as the head of studies, the guidance team or the ATAL teacher.

• Ask for the result in writing, including the level, grade and hours of support it leads to.

• Confirm how long your region allows support: usually one school year, and in many regions a second year is possible.

• Ask what happens when support ends, such as refuerzo educativo, small groups or the PROA+ programme.

• Note the date support is due to end and ask the school to review progress before then.

Support length and tests differ by region, so confirm the exact limit with the school or your regional education office.

Frequently asked questions

Does my child qualify if they arrived more than a year ago?

It depends on your region's arrival window, which is often under 12 months and up to 2 years in some regions. A language gap shown by the school's assessment is also needed. Ask the school which window your region uses.

Who tests my child's Spanish level?

The school tests it, usually the head of studies with the guidance department. In Madrid the educational guidance teams run oral and written Spanish tests, and in Andalusia the ATAL teacher does it.

What support does my child get once newcomer support ends?

Your child stays in the ordinary group with extra help such as refuerzo educativo (reinforcement classes), curricular adaptations or small groups. The state-funded PROA+ programme offers guidance and support outside regular lessons.