Learning Spanish as a parent while your children learn at school

Terms used

• AMPA — The AMPA is a school's parents' association, which often organises activities and sometimes classes for parents.
• CEPA — A CEPA is a public adult education centre, often with low-cost Spanish classes in the morning or evening.
• Ludoteca — A ludoteca is a supervised play space for children while parents attend a class or activity.
• Comedor — The comedor is the school lunchroom service, paid for separately.
• Tutorías — Tutorías are meetings with your child's teacher to discuss progress and behaviour.
• Boletín — The boletín is the school report with your child's grades.

Key rules

• Childcare: Spanish classes with childcare are uncommon, so ask social services, Cruz Roja, Cáritas or local NGOs what exists in your town.
• School hours: Morning classes at a CEPA usually fit the school day even without childcare.
• Interpreting: Do not use your children as interpreters; ask the school for a mediator or bring an adult friend.
• School programmes: Ask the school secretary or the AMPA whether they run Spanish classes for parents.

Start with classes that fit school hours

The easiest way to learn is to study while your children are in class. Many schools run roughly 9:00 to 14:00 in infant and primary, and secondary often starts at 8:00 or 8:30. Morning classes fit that well. Exact hours vary by region and school, so check your school's timetable first.

Classes with childcare exist, but they are uncommon and depend on your town. Some NGOs, parish and neighbourhood associations, and council programmes for migrants offer a children's space (ludoteca) or run during school hours. Adult education centres (CEPA) and official language schools usually do not provide childcare, but their morning schedules can still work around the school day.

Who to ask

• Your town hall's social services: ask whether any class offers childcare or runs during school hours.
• Cruz Roja, Cáritas and local NGOs: ask about family-friendly times.
• The school secretary, the head of studies or the AMPA: ask whether they run classes for parents.
• Your nearest CEPA: ask about the morning timetable.

Classes linked to your child's school

Some AMPAs organise Spanish classes for foreign parents, often with the town council, NGOs or a CEPA. Some regions run family programmes or community schools that host classes, and some schools with many immigrant pupils offer them. Availability is patchy, so ask rather than assume.

Plan around the school year

Classes for children pause at Christmas (about two weeks) and Easter (about one). In late June primary schools often finish, sometimes with shorter days. Summer has no school, so look for family-friendly or intensive classes then. Each region publishes its own calendar every year.

Most schools also offer early-morning care, a lunchroom (comedor) and after-school activities for a fee. These can free up time for your own classes.

Do not rely on your children to interpret

Children who interpret are put in an adult role. They may get things wrong or leave things out, especially on medical, legal, behaviour or money matters. They may also hear things not suitable for their age. It also weakens your direct relationship with the school.

For important meetings, ask the school for a mediator or interpreter, or bring an adult friend.

Learn school words first

Start with the situations you will meet most:

• Greetings and introductions
• Absence and illness notes
• Tutorías (meetings with the teacher)
• Notas or boletín (school reports)
• Deberes (homework)
• Timetable and calendar
• School meals and allergies
• Excursions and permission slips (autorización)
• Fees and materials
• Pick-up and emergencies
• How to ask someone to repeat, or to ask for an interpreter

The checklist and FAQ below go through these steps, and the timeline shows the school year.

Timeline and deadlines

• Start of the school year: plan class times around your child's timetable: early to mid September

• Christmas break: classes for children pause: about two weeks in December and January

• Easter break: classes for children pause: about one week in spring

• End of primary school year, often with shorter days in some regions: around 20 to 24 June

• Summer: no school, so look for family-friendly or intensive classes: from late June to September

Checklist

• Check the morning schedule at your nearest adult education centre (CEPA) so classes fit school hours.

• Learn school words first: absence notes, tutorías, boletín, deberes, permission slips and pick-up.

Childcare and parent classes differ from town to town, so confirm with the office you contact.

Frequently asked questions

Can I find Spanish classes for parents through my child's school?

Yes, some schools have an AMPA (parents' association) that organises Spanish classes for foreign parents, but this is not available everywhere. Ask the school secretary, the AMPA or the head of studies. The town hall's education department or the nearest adult education centre (CEPA) can also tell you.

Do Spanish classes for adults usually offer childcare?

No, childcare is uncommon, though some classes run by NGOs, parish groups or town council programmes for migrants have a children's space (ludoteca). Adult education centres and official language schools rarely provide it, but their morning classes can fit school hours. Ask your town hall's social services, Cruz Roja or Cáritas.

What school hours should I plan my class times around?

Infant and primary schools usually run 9:00 to 14:00, so a morning class fits well. Some schools, mainly private ones, split the day with a break at lunchtime. The school year runs from September to late June.

What Spanish should I learn first for school communication?

Start with greetings, absence and illness notes, meetings with the teacher (tutorías) and school reports (boletín). Then add homework (deberes), school meals and allergies, permission slips (autorización), fees and emergencies. Also learn how to ask someone to repeat something.