Does anyone have any experience of this school - good or bad?

Our Son is 4 in May and due to start school in September - we were hoping for him to go to the British School of ALicante but they can only offer a place ion the waiting list which, to me, isn't good enough. So we are looking at alternatives.

We are English with very little spanish by the way and currently living at Alenda Golf, Monforte del cid so may have to move if we decide on Muxtamel.

Any help gratefully received

Julie

Hello Julie

I can't advise about the schools in that area.. but I would say that you could also look at biligual nurseries.

My little boy was 4 when he came to Spain and he went to a English/Spanish nursery. He loved it and picked up alot of spanish, plus there is English usually 50/50.

I think that it would be better than an all English school. My opinion, but it would ease him and really help him speak and understand spanish. My little boy is now 6 and is in a state primary school. He is now fluent and sounds like a little spanish boy. Everyone thinks he's spanish until he speaks to me in English.

Best age. Any older it will be harder for them.

... if you're 'here for the duration' then I would definitely put him into a Spanish school. That's what we did with ours and they survived fine.

The problem is we don't know how long we are going to be here, hence the international school and the british curriculum in case we have to go back to the uk.

At 4 I wouldn't worry about that.......besides, if our 8yo is anything to go by, he was at Spanish state school for three years, nigh on fluent (no Spanish at home so there are obvious limitations on vocab) but when we decided he needed to have a broader English education too, we put him in British/International - specifically chosen for 85% Spanish pupils & he's doing just fine in a 75% English curriculum. His Spanish hasn't dropped off because he's surrounded by Spanish in the playground, comedor, chatter in class, etc., & they have conocimiento - his favourite subject - and lengua in Spanish & that's doing fine too. To recap, at 4 I'd forget worrying about long term, give him what Spanish you can & at that age they are learning through play as much as if not more than through tight curriculum anyway.

Just to add, the state primary education in Spain is far better and more advanced than the British. My opinion.

Comparing my own kids anyway.

My 6 1/2 year old can read both Spanish and English and fluent in both.

Totally agree with both

Thanks for your opinions, I'm struggling as I have no spanish at all - how do you parents get on with talking to the teachers etc if they are all spanish??

it's hard at first, but if there are any other brits at the school they will probably help out

if not - then there are always interpreters

it's a great reason to learn as much spanish as poss before you arrive - & you'd be amazed at how much you can achieve with half a dozen verbs & a few useful phrases

The school where my grandkids go run free Spanish classes for the parents.

Plus, most schools teach English so, in theory, there should be at least one teacher who can speak some English

in theory

When my 2 started the school secretary was also the English teacher & his English wasn't bad. He did help out quite a bit.

Then one day a notice went up on the school gate & outside the secretary's office that there was a directive from the education authority that the only 2 languages officially spoken at the school (and all others within the same authority) were Castellano & Valenciano. If you were unable to speak either of those you had to pay for an interpreter.

The secretary & other teachers were actually afraid for their jobs if caught speaking to a parent in any other language!

The directora can actually speak pretty good English - I know because we have met for coffee to give her some practice before her oral exams - but even she was afraid to speak to a parent in English on school premises. I did see her a couple of times walk to the corner to speak to a parent!

I think it has relaxed a bit recently, because the last time I went to see a teacher there I was met at the gate by another teacher who offered to translate for me! He was new & had no idea that I used to be on the AMPA committee & could speak Spanish

The English teacher at my childrens' school speak quite good English but I do try and not use her.

I prefer to take someone with me to help me (or get my hubby to get time off work) then ask for the English teacher. Or write down and practice what I want to ask.

I think that's a good idea... only problem of course (and I speak from bitter experience and bear in mind I'm in rural Andaluz country) is that then they answer you back and you have to be prepared to understand that.... and continue the conversation!