The age-six cliff in early intervention and how to plan the handover

Terms used

• Atención temprana — Atención temprana is the public early-intervention service for children from birth to 6 with developmental delay or disorders.
• Pedagogía terapéutica — Pedagogía terapéutica (PT) is specialist teaching support at school for children with learning or developmental needs.
• Audición y lenguaje — Audición y lenguaje (AL) is speech and language support provided at school.
• Grado de discapacidad — The grado de discapacidad is the official disability rating, issued by the region, that can unlock benefits and services.
• Dictamen de escolarización — The dictamen de escolarización is the school guidance team's report that recommends the type of school placement, ordinary or special.

Key rules

• End date: Services usually end at the sixth birthday, and the exact end point depends on your region.
• Start early: Begin arranging school and outpatient support 12 months before your child turns six.
• Report: The centre's report goes to the school only with your involvement or written consent.
• Waiting lists: Outpatient referrals can have long waits, so ask your paediatrician early.

When services end

Early intervention (atención temprana) covers children up to 6 years old. In most regions it stops at the sixth birthday. A few regions, Andalucía for example, let a child continue until the end of the school year in which they turn six, or until they start primary school. This is not a general extension, and conditions depend on the region and the child's needs. Ask your centre which date applies where you live.

When to start

Start about 12 months before your child turns six, or earlier if you can. Primary school begins in the calendar year your child turns six. The school admission window is usually in spring, roughly March to May, but each region sets its own dates and they change from year to year. The timeline below shows the order.

What replaces early intervention

Support after six comes from several places. Plan for all of them, because none of them follows on automatically.

• School. The school's guidance team (orientador, or the EOEP or EOE) assesses your child and decides what support they need. That can be pedagogía terapéutica (PT), audición y lenguaje (AL), sometimes an aide, and adaptations in class.
• Public health system. Your paediatrician can refer your child to child neurology, child mental health, rehabilitation or speech therapy. Waiting lists can be long, so ask early.
• Non-profit associations. Groups for autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy and similar conditions offer therapy, often with regional subsidy or fees.
• Disability certificate. The grado de discapacidad, issued by your region's assessment body, can open further benefits. Apply for it or renew it if your child needs it.

The usual route is to ask the school for an assessment and ask the paediatrician for referrals, both at the same time.

Getting the report to the school

The centre's report is normally given to the family, and you decide whether to share it. In your child's final year of services, ask the centre for a developmental or discharge report. Give it to the school when you enrol your child. Do this before the admission period if you can.

In some regions the centre can send the report straight to the school's guidance team. Data protection rules mean it needs your written consent. Each region has its own way of doing this, so ask both the centre and the school's guidance team.

Once the school has the report, its guidance team does its own assessment to decide whether your child needs special educational support (NEAE).

If you may want a specialised school

If special education or a specialised school might suit your child, ask early about the dictamen de escolarización. This is the assessment that decides which school placement your child gets.

The checklist and the questions below cover the rest.

Choosing between options

Who should send the centre's report to the school?

• You hand it over yourself: Fits when you want to read the report first and decide whether to share it. Ask the centre for it, then give it to the school when you enrol your child.

• The centre sends it directly: Fits when your region allows it. Give the centre written consent so it can send the report to the school's guidance team.

Data protection rules require your consent either way. Ask the centre and the school guidance team which route your region uses, and choose the direct route if it is offered and you want the guidance team to have the report before the assessment.

Timeline and deadlines

• Start arranging school and outpatient support: about 12 months before your child turns six, or earlier, around age five

• Ask the paediatrician for referrals to outpatient services, as waiting lists can be long: at the same time as you start planning

• Ask the centre for the report and ask for the educational needs assessment: in the months before the school admission period

• Apply for school admission for the next year: in spring, roughly March to May, with exact dates set by each region

• Early intervention services end: at the sixth birthday in most regions, or at the end of the school year in some

Checklist

• Ask your early intervention centre on which date services end in your region.

• Ask the school for the educational needs assessment.

• Apply for or renew the disability certificate if your child needs it.

• Ask the centre or the guidance team about any limited continuation or follow-on programme in your region.

Frequently asked questions

What does the school do once it has my child's report?

The school's guidance team does its own assessment of your child, called a psychopedagogical assessment. It uses this to decide whether your child needs special educational support, so the centre's report does not replace it.

Does the disability certificate matter at the handover?

Yes, the disability certificate (grado de discapacidad) can open further benefits once early intervention ends, so apply for or renew it if your child needs it. Ask your regional valuation body how long it takes.

Should I ask about a specialised school before the handover?

Yes, if you may want special education or a specialised school, ask early about the dictamen de escolarización, the formal report that decides this type of placement. Ask the school guidance team how to request it.