Schools for British children

I've no direct knowledge, but:

There is no way of getting a subsidy for private education.

There's a junior school in Villamartin.

At that young age, your daughter shouldn't have any problem in integrating and picking up the language.

Hi there,

Having seen British families come to Spain to live and send their children to local schools, I would like to suggest that as you have plenty of time before your intended transfer, please please please set up Spanish lessons for her before you come. It doesn’t take long for them to learn if the course is constant and serious.

Although we say that children are sponges at that age, they can be very unhappy in an all-Spanish school and it would be so much better for her to be able to communicate with the teacher and classmates easily as this will be one less hurdle in this huge change in her life. The teachers have a job to do and simply do not have time to give a lot of attention to one child.

Please believe me, I taught English to children in Italy and those who came from other countries and who did not speak Italian were so unhappy and cried all the time. They consequently got behind in their school work, making the situation worse.

Good luck,

Janice

P.S. Lessons with adults just don’t work, so learning with other children is good or individual lessons.

Hello there

I moved to orihuela 13 months ago with our son who was then 8 he has been attending spanish school playas de orihuela which is in playa flamenca and has done very well..there are around 5 other english children in his class which has helped him settle in..his teacher has been amazing and he has  an hour a day extra spanish lessons..although he is picking up the language very well we will be getting him a spanish tutor once we are out of lock down to help him with spanish maths and the language..maybe just for 2 hours per week to help...i would def recommend putting your child into a Spanish school it really helps integrate them and my son is very happy

If you would like any other advice im happy to help 🙂

Tash

I can speak from experience here and strongly suggest you put your child in a Spanish school, for a number of reasons.

1) Your child at that age will pick up the language faster than you can even imagine. My daughter was 2.5 when we came out to Spain, she is multilingual with Valenciano and Castellano, putting me to shame! We have friends who's children range around your child age. They will survive I can assure you

2) The child being in the Spanish school will drag you into that world also. It pushes you into the circle of Mums and Dads of your child friends and you soon are welcomed into such a wonderful, caring and supportive group of people who, thought your Espanglish, and Google Translate, you will grow to call them your friends and learn the language so much faster yourself.

It is a daunting prospect, I appreciate that, but seriously I would think very carefully about the Spanish school approach.

I know there are issues around the parents understanding all the bureaucracy as well as notes handed to the children, homework etc, but tutors and our friend Google Translate can assist you also. It helps you pick things up as well.

Hope it helps

El Limonar Villamartin is one of Spain’s best (International )schools and pupils graduatecwith both a Spanish and UK diploma.

If your Spanish is not completely fluent, you will not be able to help your child with its homework, talk with the teachers etc. When attending a local school.

Hi I'm new to this group, we are hoping to move to Spain June of 2022 we have a 5 year boy...... What school would you say is best around villamartin? Also where do we start the process of becoming Spanish citizens. 

Hi, 

We are looking to move to the area hopefully in the next year or year after with our two kids. They will probably be 4 & 2 when we move from the UK. I’ve seen the school your son goes to mentioned a few times. Would you still recommend it and what age does it start taking them from? It’s such a big thing to move and I want to make sure we find the right school. Thankyou so much, Emma