My son started school at The Arenal School in Javea last January and had a lovely time at school, but it was a long holiday (hopefully he didn't forget too much of the spanish he has learnt) and we didn't know who his teacher would be, the teacher he had didn't know if she would be back this year, so after a sleepless night last night (he slept soundly) imagine my relief when his last years teacher came out to collect him, now I have got that one over my 3 year old little princess starts for the first time today, we have been teaching her how to ask for the toilet in Spanish and how to say hello, goodbye and thankyou, she is only going for an 1 1/2 and I know it is a good school, she is really excited while I feel sick half past 11 is fast approaching when we have to take her. Will update later and let you know how we got on.

what class is he in

my younger dd is there too

my dd was worried in case she has the same teacher, cos much as she loved him, she's hoping it's a different one cos she didn't do her homework

lol

her teacher came back

and he (Francesc) didn't tell her off

My daughter had a nice time at school and her teacher is really nice although speaks no english at all had to get her brother's teacher to translate for us, she went for the morning today and there is a little girl in her class whose dad speaks english so all is good so far

Mine goes back on monday, she will be in her last year now, unless she stays on, shes been here since she was 11, i put her in a spanish school, she knew no spanish, but she settled well and is now fluent , (shes 15 now)
good luck to all the children

my elder dd starts at the Instituto next week

My eldest daughter has found it really hard to settle she was 14 when we came here I think that may have been a bit old, we are just considering sending her to England to live with my sister so she can take her exams, then on the other hand I would rather she sticks it out and learns spanish.

It's much harder at her age - but a lot do settle

Hi All
We are a family of 3 who will be moving to Javea in March ( I know, worst time ever ) I have secured work which will start then. My partner will be travelling back to the UK once a month for a few days and keep there Job.
We have a 8 year old daughter who we will be sending to he local Arenal school. We have heard some mixed reports, can anyone give us some advise please?

What do we need in advance to register her ?
Do we need to register at the doctors first and NEI no ?
What is the cost of the books for a year?

We are over at the end of October for a week, could we get some thing orginised then?

I know the same Qs get asked on this site all the time, So sorry. We would just like as much info as poss. Anything would be great!

Thanks
Scott/Vanda

Hi

I have found the school to be brilliant, have been to meetings today and yesterday so they can discuss the school year ahead also picked up a cheque for 105 euros to go towards school books for my son who is in the last year there, my younger two 4 and 3 have to give 65 euros each to the teacher for materials and a school diary. To register at the school you will need to have a medical report to give to the school if you register with the local doctors you can have it done there which will be free, or you could go to one of the private doctors here (get a copy of the immunisations that your daughter has had from the doctors in England), it will cost if you go private but I am not sure how much we went to the spanish doctors who also started my children on a course of injections for hepatitis, you will need to have proof of where you live, copy of birth certificate, passport photo's I think it was 2 you can get those done here. When my son first started we had to get a padron for the school at the town hall then go to the education centre who then told us which school had places, take copies of passports of mum and dad and child and I think that was all if you have any further questions you can either pm me or ask on here.

Good luck just make sure this is the right decision for you and your family, you certainly learn to live here but the main problem is getting an income if you have got that sorted then you should be fine.

Amber

your son is in year 6 & you got the bonolibros?

it was only up to year 2 last year and as I understood it was extended to year 4 this year

or at least that what the voucher I collected today said on it - and I have friends with kids in year 5 & 6, and kids who I teach maths to, who didn't get vouchers

in fact, if you look here http://translate.google.com/translat...006-48,GGIC:en

(translated by google so a bit dodgy) it definately says only up to year 4

I am very confused now!

Hi

Didn't get vouchers got a cheque to put in the bank.

now I get it - you must have at least four kids in school then!

there's no help if you have less than 4 kids or are on benefits, except for the newish 'bonolibro' scheme

I think it is actually 3 kids that triggers the help, according to my gestoria.
We got books of vouchers from the Town Hall, €30 each (mine are 8 and 4) to be spent on materials in selected local shops, and the €120 odd towards the 8 year old books which were €190 odd I think. Got no help towards the books for the youngest, but then they only have a couple.

As Valencia Tim says, the cut-off is 3 children. We have two at primary and a third just started ESO. We got cheques for the twins and money paid into the bank for our eldest.

Books for the twins cost about 250euros each and we were given cheques for 127 each. Our eldest was given 125euros for books which, so far, have cost nearly 400euros!

You will need at some point to have the medical centre check her over. Yes you will need NIE's. You will also need to be on the 'padron' and you will need to check in with the town hall.