Requesting a school evaluation (evaluación psicopedagógica)

Terms used

• Orientador — The orientador is the school's guidance counsellor, who assesses pupils' learning needs and advises on support.
• Informe psicopedagógico — The informe psicopedagógico is the written report of the evaluation, with the child's needs and proposed support measures.
• Dictamen de escolarización — The dictamen de escolarización is an official opinion on the type of school placement and support a child needs.
• Audiencia — The audiencia is your right as a parent to be heard and give your view during the evaluation.
• EOEP — The EOEP is the zone guidance team that evaluates children in infant and primary schools, mainly in Madrid.
• Recurso de alzada — The recurso de alzada is a formal administrative appeal to a higher education authority against a decision.

Key rules

• 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.
• Consent: Many regions require your consent, or at least that you are informed, and you have the right to be heard.
• Timing: Most regions set no strict maximum time, so ask the school for an expected date.

Who starts the evaluation

The school normally starts it, but you do not have to wait. You can ask the class tutor or the school management to start it, and you should do that in writing. Usually the tutor or another teacher notices a need and passes it to the school's orientador (guidance counsellor). If you ask first, you trigger the same process.

Health or social services can also flag a need. They usually go through the school, so the school is still your main contact.

Each region sets its own rules, so wording and steps differ. The rules described here apply to children in publicly funded schools.

Who carries it out

The orientador does the evaluation, or the guidance team for your area does it. In secondary schools, the orientador belongs to the school's own guidance department. In infant and primary schools, a zone team usually does it. That team is called EOEP, EOE, EAP or EAT depending on the region.

The result is a written report, the informe psicopedagógico. If your child may need a special school placement, the team also drafts a dictamen de escolarización. The regional education administration then validates it, often through the inspectorate or a provincial office. Who validates it varies by region.

Your part as a parent or guardian

• Be informed and heard. You have the right to be heard (audiencia) before and during the evaluation.
• Consent. Many regions require your consent, or at least that you know, before an individual evaluation starts. Ask your school whether your region needs written consent or only notification.
• Results. You are told the results and the proposed support measures. You can ask for a copy of the report and a meeting with the orientador.
• Placement opinion. For a dictamen de escolarización, you are heard and usually sign to confirm you have been informed.

How long it takes

Most regions set no strict maximum time. Some give only indicative periods, such as finishing within the school term or before enrolment deadlines. Waiting times depend mostly on how many pupils the guidance service has to see. Ask the school for an expected date when you submit your request.

If you disagree

You can ask for the evaluation to be revised and send written allegations. If you disagree with the dictamen or the resulting decision, you can appeal to the school management, then the education inspectorate, and then file a recurso de alzada with the regional education department. Appeal deadlines are often one month, but they vary by region, so ask for the exact deadline as soon as you receive the decision.

Finding your region's rules

Each region's Consejería de Educación publishes its rules and contacts on its education portal. Look under sections such as atención a la diversidad, orientación educativa or necesidades específicas de apoyo educativo. The school's orientador or head teacher can tell you which team covers your school. In Ceuta and Melilla, the national Ministry of Education is responsible.

Team names differ. For example, Madrid uses EOEP and EAT, Andalucía uses EOE, Catalonia uses EAP and Valencia uses SPE. The steps, the letter template and the checklist are below.

Steps from first request to written evaluation report

• Enrol your child in a school first, because the evaluation is done through the school's guidance service. In some regions the local guidance team (EOEP, EOE or EAT) can also act before enrolment for children with identified needs.: before you start

• Gather your child's reports: diagnoses, psychological or educational assessments, any individual education plan and school reports from the previous school, and therapy reports. Ask the school before paying for translations, as schools do not normally need a sworn translation for an evaluation.: before you send your request

• Send the school a dated written request for an evaluation, addressed to the director and the orientador (the school's guidance counsellor).: first step

• Wait for the tutor to record the need and try ordinary support measures. If they are not enough, the tutor asks the orientador to evaluate.: after your request, once the school's first measures fall short

• Give your consent and be heard. Many regions require your consent, or at least that you know, before an individual evaluation begins.: before the evaluation starts

• Let the orientador assess your child and their learning context. There is usually no fixed legal maximum, so ask the school for its expected date, as the wait depends on how many pupils the guidance service has to see.: after you have been heard

• Attend the family interview and ask for a copy of the informe psicopedagógico (the written evaluation report).: when the assessment is done

• Review the support measures the school proposes in the report and agree how and when they will be reviewed.: when the report is shared with you and the school management

• Know who handles what. The tutor and orientador (from the school or the zone guidance team) run the evaluation and decide the support measures. A foreign diagnosis only supports their work. The regional education administration decides any dictamen de escolarización (opinion on specialised schooling).: throughout the process

• If you agree with the report, the school puts the measures in place. If you disagree, ask the school for a meeting with the orientador, ask for a revision and send written allegations. If you still disagree with the dictamen or its resolution, appeal to the school management, then the education inspectorate, then lodge a recurso de alzada with the regional education department. Appeal deadlines are often one month.: if you disagree with the report or the dictamen

• If the school cannot support your child, ask the regional admissions commission or education department for a place at a better-resourced school. You can also ask for a dictamen for specialised schooling, complain to the school management and the education inspectorate, or contact a disability association or the regional ombudsman.: if the school says it cannot meet your child's needs

• Judge the school's answer. A good answer is written and names the support staff, hours, an evaluation timetable and how plans are reviewed. Vague promises, no named staff or a refusal to put things in writing are warning signs.: when the school replies

Questions to put to each school in writing

This section is for families moving with children.

• Ask whether the school has an orientation team or counsellor and how often they are on site.

• Ask what ordinary and specific support it offers, such as pedagogía terapéutica (specialist learning support), speech and language, teaching assistants and language support.

• Ask how many hours of support a child gets each week and whether it is given in class or outside it.

• Ask whether the school accepts foreign reports, when it would do its own evaluation and how long that takes.

• Ask about the school's experience with your child's condition and for examples of similar cases.

• Ask about physical accessibility and any medical or therapy arrangements.

• Ask about class sizes and how many pupils have additional needs.

• Ask how the school teaches Spanish or the co-official language to new arrivals.

• Ask how the school keeps in touch with families and how often it reviews support plans.

• Ask about its admission and priority criteria for pupils with special needs, and what happens if places are limited or it cannot meet your child's needs.

• Judge each reply: a good answer is in writing and names the support staff, hours, evaluation timetable and review process. Treat vague promises, no named staff or a refusal to commit in writing as warning signs.

• If a school cannot support your child, ask the regional admissions commission or education department for a place at a better-resourced school, ask for a dictamen for specialised schooling, and complain to the school management and the education inspectorate.

Checklist

• Ask the class tutor or school management in writing to start the evaluation, since the school normally starts it but families can ask too.

• Ask the school's orientador (guidance counsellor) to confirm who will carry out the evaluation: the school's guidance department, or the zone team such as the EOEP, EOE, EAP or EAT.

• Ask for a hearing (audiencia) so you can give your view before and during the evaluation.

• Ask the school for an expected completion date, because most regions set no strict maximum time.

• Look up your region's current name for the guidance team and report on your Consejería de Educación portal.

• Ask for a copy of the report and a meeting with the orientador to go through the results and proposed measures.

What to watch out for

• Disagreeing with the result: If you disagree with the report or the dictamen, you can lose the chance to challenge it if you wait, because appeal deadlines are often one month. Ask for a copy and a meeting with the orientador, then ask for a revision and submit written allegations. If you still disagree, appeal to the school management, then the education inspectorate, then lodge a recurso de alzada with the regional education department.

• Verbal requests leave no trace: A request made only in conversation is easy to lose and gives you nothing to point to later. Put requests, objections and revision requests in writing and keep a dated copy.

Letter asking the school to start an evaluation

Dear Director and Orientador,

I am the parent or legal guardian of the pupil named below. I am writing to ask formally that the school start an evaluación psicopedagógica for my child.

Pupil details

• Full name: [child's full name]
• Date of birth: [date]
• Year group and class: [for example, 3º Primaria, class B]
• Class tutor: [tutor's name]

Parent or guardian details

• Full name: [your name]
• ID or NIE number: [number]
• Phone: [number]
• Email: [address]

Why I am asking [Describe in a few plain sentences what you have noticed, for example: "My child finds reading and writing much harder than classmates, gets very tired with homework, and the tutor has mentioned difficulty keeping up in class." Add any reports you already have, such as medical, therapy or earlier school reports.]

What I am asking the school to do

1. Start the evaluación psicopedagógica and tell me in writing that the request has been received and registered.
2. Meet me to hear my views before and during the evaluation.
3. Tell me what consent or signature the school needs from me for the evaluation to begin. I am ready to sign it.
4. Share the results with me, with the support measures proposed for my child.

Documents attached [List any reports you attach, or write "None at this time".]

I would be grateful for a reply in writing. Please stamp or sign the copy of this letter to confirm the date you received it.

Yours faithfully,

[Signature] [Full name] [Place and date]

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Before you send it

• Hand it in at the school office or send it by email to the school's official address. Ask for a stamped or dated copy, or keep the sent email. The date on that copy is your record.
• Print two copies if you deliver it by hand. The school keeps one and you keep the other.
• Some regions have their own school form for this request. If the school gives you one, fill it in and attach this letter as well.
• Whether the school needs your written consent or only has to notify you varies by region. Ask your regional education department, or the school itself, what applies where you live.

Frequently asked questions

Who issues the report and the dictamen de escolarización?

The orientador or the zone guidance team writes the informe psicopedagógico, and the same staff draft the dictamen de escolarización (the school-placement opinion).

What is the guidance team called in my region?

The name changes by region: Madrid uses EOEP and EAT, Andalucía uses EOE and DO, Catalonia uses EAP, and Valencia uses SPE. Many regions call the report an informe psicopedagógico. Your school's orientador can tell you the exact team and district office.

Where do I find my region's evaluation rules and contacts?

Your region's Consejería de Educación publishes them on its education portal, under sections such as atención a la diversidad or orientación educativa. The school's orientador or head teacher can name the responsible team.