Evaluation and foreign diagnoses

It is written for people considering, planning or carrying out a move to Spain. The school evaluation opens the door to nearly all school resources, so the order of steps matters.

Start with "Requesting a school evaluation (evaluación psicopedagógica)". It explains who starts an evaluation, who carries it out and where you fit in.

From there, read these as you need them:

• Whether your child's existing reports count in Spain.
• How to read the evaluation report and the school placement opinion.
• How long the wait is and when a private report makes sense.
• What to request from the school while you wait.
• How a language gap differs from a learning difficulty.

Key rules

• Foreign diagnosis: A foreign diagnosis is supporting information only, and the public guidance team still carries out its own evaluation to set the official support.
• Translations: Schools do not normally need a sworn translation for an evaluation, so ask the school before paying for one.
• Who starts it: The school normally starts the evaluation, but you can ask the tutor or school management to start it, in writing.
• Who evaluates: The school's orientador or the area guidance team carries out the evaluation, under your region's rules.
• Who decides: The guidance team proposes and the regional administration decides the placement, after hearing you.
• Validity: There is no single expiry date; reports are revised at stage changes or when needs change.

Evaluation and foreign diagnoses: the whole process, step by step

• Ask the school for an evaluation (see Requesting a school evaluation): As soon as you notice difficulties; there is no strict legal maximum in most regions, so ask early

• For a newly arrived child, allow time to learn the language first (see Language gap or learning difficulty in a newly arrived child): Commonly around 1 school year, sometimes up to 2 years of language support, unless there are clear signs of disability, a known diagnosis or marked difficulty in the first language

• Share any foreign diagnosis or IEP with the school (see Does your child's foreign diagnosis or IEP count in Spain?): When you ask for the evaluation, so the guidance team can use it as supporting information

• Wait for the guidance team to see your child (see How long evaluations take and when to pay for a private report): Waiting time depends on how many pupils the team has to see; some regions aim for the school term or before enrolment deadlines

• Ask for support in the meantime (see Waiting for an assessment while your child struggles now): While you wait for the evaluation

• Receive the results and ask for a copy or a meeting with the orientador (see Reading the evaluation report and school placement opinion): After the evaluation is finished

• Challenge the dictamen if you disagree: first the school management, then the education inspectorate, then a recurso de alzada with the regional education department: Appeal deadlines are often 1 month

• Have the report reviewed: When your child changes stage (infant to primary, primary to ESO, ESO to post-obligatory) or when needs change; many regions also review every stage or every 1 to 2 years for pupils with the greatest needs

Waiting times, review intervals and newcomer waiting periods vary by region, so check the current rules with your child's school or regional education department.

Documents you may need

• A sworn translation — Does your child's foreign diagnosis or IEP count in Spain?

• Your child's foreign diagnostic or evaluation report — Does your child's foreign diagnosis or IEP count in Spain?

Evaluation and foreign diagnoses: questions that cross several articles

Is there a legal maximum time for a school evaluation?

No, most regions set no strict maximum time for completing an evaluation. Some instructions only give indicative periods, such as within the school term, and waits depend on how many pupils each guidance team has. Read How long evaluations take and when to pay for a private report next.

Who issues the evaluation report and the dictamen?

The report is issued by the orientador of the school's guidance department in secondary, or by the zone guidance team in primary and infant schools. The guidance team also drafts the dictamen, and the regional education administration then validates it. Names differ by region, such as EOEP in Madrid, EOE in Andalucía and EAP in Catalonia; see Reading the evaluation report and school placement opinion.

What can I do if I disagree with the report or the dictamen?

You can ask the school for a copy, request a revision and submit written allegations, then appeal to the school management, the inspectorate and finally the regional education department.