School calendar and the school day

It is for anyone thinking about moving to Spain, planning the move or already settling in with children at school.

Start with "The Spanish school year calendar and how it differs by region". Term dates and vacations are set by region, so this tells you when the year starts and ends and when the breaks fall. Then read "School hours: continuous (jornada continua) or split (jornada partida) day" to see how the school day fits around work.

Once you have those two, the rest follows in this order:

• Attendance and absences: what Spanish schools expect.
• A normal school week: homework, extracurriculars and the parents' association.
• The first weeks at a Spanish school: what to expect.

Holiday and wraparound care, the school canteen and transport, and communication with the school in Spanish are covered elsewhere.

Key rules

• Teaching days: Compulsory stages must have at least 175 teaching days a year, and some regions set slightly more.
• Justifying absences: Absences are usually justified to the class tutor within about 3 to 5 school days of the child's return, though the exact deadline is set by the region and school.
• Compulsory schooling: Schooling is compulsory from age 6 to 16, covering primary and ESO, whatever the family's nationality or residence status.
• Regional calendars: Your region's calendar is the one that counts, so never plan around another region's dates.
• Check your school: Hours differ by region, stage and school type, so get the exact times from your child's school.

School calendar and the school day: the whole process, step by step

• Find your region's official school calendar (read: The Spanish school year calendar and how it differs by region): Before you plan travel or work leave; regions publish it each year, often in spring or summer

• Note the start of classes, which differs by region (read: The Spanish school year calendar and how it differs by region): Early September, roughly between 1 and 12 September depending on region and stage

• Check daily hours, continuous or split day, and how they fit your work (read: School hours: continuous (jornada continua) or split (jornada partida) day): Before the school year starts, as the rules differ by region

• Learn how to justify absences and who to tell (read: Attendance and absences: what Spanish schools expect): Before the first absence; then within about 3 to 5 school days of your child's return

• Learn the weekly routine, homework and parents' association (read: A normal school week: homework, extracurriculars and the parents' association): During the first weeks of term

• Prepare for entry and exit routines and the break-time snack (read: The first weeks at a Spanish school: what to expect): In the first days and weeks of term

• Plan the Christmas break: Usually from about 22-23 December to 6-7 January

• Plan the Easter break: About one week to nine days around Holy Week; in 2027 Easter Sunday is 28 March

• Plan for the end of classes: Typically around 18 to 23 June

School calendar and the school day: questions that cross several articles

Who sets the school calendar and where do I find it?

Each region sets its own school calendar through its education department, so dates differ from region to region. It is published in the regional official gazette and on the regional education website.

Does my child have to attend if we have just arrived?

Yes, schooling is compulsory from 6 to 16 whatever your nationality or residence status. That means primary and ESO (compulsory secondary school). Read Attendance and absences: what Spanish schools expect, and check the calendar article for your region's start date.

How do I justify an absence and how fast?

You justify it to the class tutor, with a signed note, the school's form or its online app, usually within about 3 to 5 school days of your child's return. See Attendance and absences: what Spanish schools expect.

Do school hours differ by region as well as the calendar?

Yes, continuous day (jornada continua) is the usual choice in primary in many regions, while others such as Catalonia and the Basque Country have traditionally used split days. Schools adopt a change through a vote set by the region.