School Age
 

Hi,

My husband and I have been talking about moving to Spain with our young family. Our kids are 2 1/2 (3 in August) and 11 weeks. Can anyone tell me what age they start school in Spain and in your opinon are International Schools or Spanish the best option for them. At present the only Spanish my 2/12 year old twins speak is Hola!!!

Thanks Michelle

Re: School Age
 

Thats more than my 25yr old bird speaks, lol

Re: School Age
 

Here in Valencia, they are able to start at 3 years old and do a full day, and they have to go to school at 6 years old.
We have an eight year old and a three year old, both in the local village school, doing 9 til 4.30, having their lunch there and travelling to and fro on the bus provided by the town hall, which caters for kids that live more than 3km away from the school.
Hope that helps.
regards
Tim

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Start at three here too.

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You didn't pick her for her intellect then? Tits? Legs? Ass? Rich Dad? all Four??

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too Ugly, had to take what was there,

she has the Tits, but the legs arse and Rich Dad are all missing, Im hopeful once I settle in Spain Ill get what ive always wanted, lol

Re: School Age
 

Thanks that does help. They start nursery here at 3 but only for half a day. When does the school year run from - to? holidays etc?

I have searched some websites but figured it'd be easier (and more accurate) asking people directly.

Michelle

Re: School Age
 

She must be about the perfect height then?

Re: School Age
 

I can only tell you about the local area.
Ours finished yesterday until the 1st of April for Fallas celebrations and Easter, they then go through to the 3rd week in June and finish for the summer until the 2nd week of september (so 3 months summer holiday), then through until normally the day before xmas eve then back on the 9th ish of January. They do not have half terms here, just odd days here and there. The school day is 9 til 4.30 monday to thursday and 9 til 12.45 on a friday unless they stay for lunch in which case 9 til 3. In June and September, they only do half days because of the heat.
The school year runs the same as the UK, except that they can start school 3 years after they are born.
In many areas there are also nurseries for pre school age.
School meals are properly balanced, 3 courses, and of the take it or leave it type! For example, on a special occasion fiesta or xmas meal, if they are lucky (!), it may be burger and chips.
There are the usual parent teacher associations, they all go on subsidised trips, including the infants, they are chaperoned on the school bus, and the infants also have an assistant sat with them during their meals.
From 6 years upwards, they have homework, everyday, normally about an hours worth. Our eldest came home yesterday with 30pages worth to keep him occupied over the next 2 weeks!
In Valencia, you have the choice of their lessons being held in Castellano (Spanish) or Valenciano, whichever is the main one, the other is taught as an additional languge, but they have to learn both in any case to enable them to graduate at the end of their education.
Regards
Tim

Re: School Age
 

So if they go to a Spanish school would they need to speak Spanish before they start or would that be taught at school? Probably a really silly question but it's one a need the answer to.
Michelle

Re: School Age
 

Our 8 year old started when he was 4, spoke no Spanish at all and was very shy. He was the only English child in his class of 20 odd, his teacher spoke no English at all. Took him about a month to really settle in and obviously is now fluent. Nearly all of his friends are Spanish.
Our 3 year old could hardly speak any English when he started, let alone spanish. Same again, his teacher speaks very little English, no other English children in his class.
Whereas people we know whose children have been in classes with other English kids have problems because there is a them and us situation where the kids don't mix.
The one thing that is very important, is that it falls on the parents to maintain the kids' English education and language, because although English is taught at the schools, it will be of the same standard or quality that we were all taught french all those years ago!
Tim

Re: School Age
 

With them being twins I guess they would have each other which would make it easier (?) for them to settle in as they wouldn't feel so isolated by the language barrier.

Re: School Age
 

Probably, but you cannot assume that they will be in the same class.
Tim

Re: School Age
 

yes mate, ha ha ha, that was appealing at the time we met, how things change, for all of us I guess

Re: School Age
 

Sorry for bringing the thread down to this level.

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Yes I actually feel really bad, having a sub-topic about optimal female stature for giving oral sex on a thread about infant schools, I feel dirty - I feel like Rugbymatt! Very sorry people.

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I've found it quite amusing waiting to see what's put next so don't worry!

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Excellant - how tall are you??

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5'10 so too tall for you (and married) lol

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Ignore most web sites, they seem to be fixated on the notion that children start school in Spain at six!

As long as they are three by the end of December, they can start this full school year i.e. they'd start in September. Term dates - well you won't find those on the net, sometimes even the school doesn't know, and eventually informs parents via telepathy as ours seems to do. :rofl:

Having put our eldest through pre-school in the UK - the difference is night and day. Our 2.5/3 year old does work in the Spanish state school system which is not far from what our eldest did in reception year in the UK at age five.

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Married don't matter, secretly he'll have sharing fantasies-believe me - it's the height thing thats the tricky one but with a bit of imagination we could work round it.

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Ah we're all the same height when we're horizontal :rofl:

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Anyway back to the point! Twyntub how did your kids deal with the language barrier or did your eldest speak spanish?

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Now why didn't I think of that??;) Have you had a word with the other half?

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About sharing? He wouldn't want a Macdonalds when he's got steak at home!!:p

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It wouldn't be him getting the Royale with Cheese though would it.

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Ah it's cheesy is it! In that case I'll pass :rofl:

Re: School Age
 

I could hold the cheese, extra gurkin?

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I have reported this thread to the Mods.

Re: School Age
 

Maybe if you offered to bring your Whopper you could join our picnic?

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What's for main course?

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It'll be some sort of sandwich, probably with a fruity filling, maybe a little extra on the side?

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I'm more of a spit roast kinda guy.

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Yes, you have mentioned that before, but by way of a change howabout trying a sausage sandwich?

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I don't think I could ever receive, more of a giving kinda guy, and who knows, if you get me drunk enough I might just do.

Re: School Age
 

I'm not asking you to be a radio, just come to a picnic?

Re: School Age
 

Count me in.

Re: School Age
 

They start at 3 here too, but it's not compulsory until the year of their 6th birthday, so if you only want them to do half days til then that's fine.

No question about the best option in my mind, spanish school all they way at their age.