💡 At the school entrance there is a porter or an intercom; ask at the office (secretaría) for the class and floor; primary school is colegio, secondary instituto.
💡 The school gives a list of materials (lista de material): notebooks, pencil case, paints; textbooks (libros de texto) are free or by voucher in many regions.
💡 The comedor escolar is the school canteen; you sign up by the month or day; the menú is posted monthly; payment is in advance or by direct debit.
💡 The aula matinal (madrugadores) is an early group before lessons; actividades extraescolares are after-school clubs (sports, music), paid separately.
💡 In many Spanish schools lessons run from nine to two with a break (recreo) and lunch; some work differently: jornada continua or partida.
💡 Educación física is PE; you need a chándal (tracksuit), zapatillas (trainers) and sometimes a spare T-shirt; the school provides or requires uniform.
💡 Forgotten items are brought to the office and handed to the teacher; do not go into the classroom; say whose child it is and which class.
💡 Medicine at school is given only with a doctor's note and written parental consent; the child should not keep it in a backpack without the teacher knowing.
💡 For a trip you sign a written consent (autorización) and pay for it (excursión): read where and when, what to bring and what happens if the child is ill.
💡 Holidays are vacaciones; the school year runs from September to June; in summer the school is closed but there are summer camps (campamentos) and council clubs.
💡 The absence (falta) is reported to the teacher in the morning: by phone, app or note; the written explanation (justificante) is brought when the child returns.
💡 The justificante de falta is written by a parent: dates, reason and signature; for a long absence a doctor's note (justificante médico) is often asked for.
💡 If you need to collect the child early (doctor, trip), write a note to the teacher or say it beforehand and sign the exit book.
💡 Many unexplained absences are faltas injustificadas; the school may ask to meet (tutoría) and in serious cases informs child protection.
💡 A long trip during term is better agreed with the teacher beforehand; ask what will be studied and whether you can take work.
💡 A reunión de padres is held at the start of the year and after each term; the teacher explains the programme and rules; it is worth attending.
💡 The tutor/tutora is the class teacher; the individual meeting is a tutoría; you can ask by note, email or the school app.
💡 Teachers say: va bien (doing well), tiene que esforzarse (needs to make an effort), participa mucho (participates a lot), es muy despistado (absent-minded); you can ask for an example.
💡 Behaviour is discussed calmly and specifically: habla mucho en clase, se distrae; answer politely, ask what to do and agree on the next meeting.
💡 Marks in Spain: insuficiente (fail), suficiente (pass), bien, notable, sobresaliente (excellent); in numbers from zero to ten, five is a pass.
💡 The report (boletín de notas) is given at the end of each term (trimestre): three a year; it is handed to parents in an envelope or in the electronic portal.
💡 Many schools have an online platform (Educamos, Alexia, Roble) for marks and messages: the school gives access and the password can be reset by email.
💡 If a mark seems unfair, ask the teacher calmly: ¿Puede explicarme cómo ha evaluado?; you can ask to see the work.
💡 Homework is deberes (or tareas): the teacher writes it in the notebook (agenda); parents check but do not do it for the child.
💡 Repeating a year is repetir curso; in primary it is rare and decided together with the family; ask about support (refuerzo).
💡 For children who do not yet know Spanish, schools have support (aula de enlace, refuerzo de español): extra language lessons outside the main class.
💡 Some schools have a mediator or interpreter (mediador intercultural); ask in advance: ¿Hay un intérprete?; you can bring an acquaintance who speaks Spanish.
💡 Help is clases de apoyo or refuerzo educativo; ask when they are and whether they are free; teachers may recommend an academia or volunteers.
💡 A useful phrase: Entiende, pero le cuesta expresarse (understands, but finds it hard to express himself): teachers take this into account and give time.
💡 Bullying is acoso escolar or bullying; tell the teacher and head, ask for concrete measures and note dates and what happened.