Autism (TEA) at school: classrooms, methods and support in Spain

Terms used

• NEE — NEE means students with special educational needs, such as disability, autism or severe disorders.
• NEAE — NEAE means students needing specific educational support, such as ADHD, dyslexia and other learning difficulties.
• Aula TEA — An aula TEA is a small specialised classroom for autistic pupils inside an ordinary school.
• Centro preferente — A centro preferente is an ordinary school set up to take autistic pupils with specialised support.
• Informe psicopedagógico — The informe psicopedagógico is the school guidance team's evaluation report on your child's needs.
• Dictamen de escolarización — The dictamen de escolarización is the report recommending which school setting your child should attend.
• TEACCH — TEACCH is a structured teaching approach using visual schedules and clear work systems.
• ABA — ABA is a behaviour-based therapy approach, used mainly in private therapy in Spain.

Key rules

• Who decides: Your regional education authority decides placement, based on the school guidance team's evaluation.
• Your rights: You can state a school preference and appeal the decision.
• Names vary: Each region uses its own name for autism classrooms, so search with your region's term.
• Review: Placement is reviewed regularly, often at stage changes.

The three settings

Autistic children in Spain are supported in one of three ways: an ordinary class with support, a specialised autism classroom inside an ordinary school, or a special school. Autism counts as NEE, the group for disability, autism and severe disorders. ADHD, dyslexia and other learning difficulties count as NEAE. National law gives these pupils the right to the resources they need and aims at inclusion in ordinary schools. Special schools are kept for cases where needs cannot be met in an ordinary setting.

• Ordinary class with support: your child stays full time with their age group. A support teacher (PT) or speech therapist (AL) helps for a few hours a week, in or out of the room.
• Aula TEA or centro preferente: a small specialised classroom, usually 3 to 7 pupils, inside an ordinary school. It suits children who need extensive support. Your child is enrolled in an ordinary class and joins it for subjects and activities where they can take part, such as art, PE, breaks and assemblies. The split of time is set for each child and reviewed every year.
• Special school: a separate school for children whose needs cannot be met in an ordinary one.

The decision tool below helps you compare them.

What an aula TEA looks like

Staff are usually a support teacher, often a speech therapist, and a classroom assistant (TIS or auxiliar). Ratios, staffing and names are set by each region.

What your region calls it

Names differ a lot, so search with your region's term:

• Madrid: centros preferentes de alumnado con TEA and aulas TEA.
• Andalucía: aulas específicas.
• Cataluña: USEE and SIEI.
• Comunitat Valenciana: aulas CYL and centros de atención preferente.
• Castilla y León: aulas TEA and centros de escolarización preferente.
• Aragón and Galicia: aulas TEA or aulas estables.
• País Vasco: aulas estables.
• Navarra: unidades de transición and aulas TEA.

Ask your regional education department for the current list of schools near you.

How access is decided

Your regional education authority decides. The school guidance team (EOEP or equipo de orientación, or EAP in Cataluña) evaluates your child. It writes an informe psicopedagógico and a dictamen de escolarización recommending a setting. The education inspectorate or a provincial committee usually validates it.

You are informed and heard, you sign the application, you can name a preferred school, and you can appeal the decision. The placement is reviewed regularly, often at stage changes.

Methods you will meet

Most schools use structured teaching based on TEACCH ideas: visual schedules and clear work systems. Many also use pictograms and alternative communication systems such as ARASAAC pictograms, PECS and signs.

ABA is used mainly in private therapy and by some associations. It is less common in public schools and is not an official method there. Regions do not prescribe one method, and practice varies by school. Ask any school how it supports autistic pupils.

Who can help

Autismo España is the national federation and groups regional associations, for example Autismo Madrid, Autismo Galicia, Autismo Sevilla, Federació Autisme Catalunya and Autismo Valencia. Asociación Asperger España and Plena Inclusión also help. Many give school advice and advocacy, so contact one in your province.

Choosing between options

Which school setting fits your autistic child?

• Ordinary class with support: Your child can stay full time with their age group and needs specialist teacher (PT) or speech therapist (AL) help for a few hours a week, in or out of the room.

• Aula TEA or centro preferente: Your child needs extensive support. They get a small class of about 3 to 7 pupils with specialist staff, and join the ordinary class for activities like art, PE and breaks.

• Special school: The evaluation finds that your child's needs cannot be met in an ordinary school.

The regional education authority decides, based on the psychopedagogical evaluation and the dictamen de escolarización from the school guidance team. You are heard, can state a school preference and can appeal.

Ratios, names and methods vary by region and school, so confirm what your school offers.

Checklist

• Look up what your region calls specialised autism classrooms, such as aulas TEA, aulas estables, centros preferentes or USEE in Cataluña.

• Ask the school guidance team (EOEP or equipo de orientación, or EAP in Cataluña) to start a psychopedagogical evaluation.

• Ask for a copy of the informe psicopedagógico and the dictamen de escolarización, the report recommending your child's setting.

• Write down your preferred school on the application before you sign it.

• Ask the school how it supports autistic pupils, for example visual schedules, pictograms and how time in the aula is split with the ordinary class.

• Contact an autism association in your province, such as one in the Autismo España network, for school advice and help with appeals.

• Put the yearly review and the next stage change in your calendar, as the placement is reviewed then.

Frequently asked questions

Who is in an aula TEA with my child?

An aula TEA usually has a small group of about 3 to 7 pupils and a specialist teacher (pedagogía terapéutica, PT). Many also have a speech therapist and a technical education assistant. Ratios and staffing are set by each region, so ask the school for its own.

Does my child spend the whole day in the aula TEA?

No, your child is enrolled in an ordinary class of their age group and joins it for subjects and activities where they can take part, such as art, PE and breaks. The split between aula and ordinary class is set individually and reviewed each year.

Can I choose the school and appeal the placement decision?

Yes, you can state a school preference on the application you sign, and you can appeal against the decision. You are informed and heard during the process. The placement is reviewed periodically, often when your child changes stage.

Will my child's school use ABA?

Probably not as a school method, because ABA is used mainly in private therapy and by some associations. Public schools more often use TEACCH-style visual schedules and pictograms. Ask the school which approach it uses, since practice varies by school and region.