Enrolment and general information as follows:

- When choosing, consider your child's age. State school lessons are taught in Castilian Spanish or the local dialect, and small children thrown 'in at the deep end' adapt more easily than those of secondary school age. In popular expat areas, other English-speaking children in class may help translate.

- International schools involve fees whereas state schools are free from age 5. Most follow a UK syllabus, up to GCSEs and A/S levels, where state schools offer the 'bachillerato' diploma. For entry it is usually necessary to show exam results, a report from the previous school, birth certificate, medical and vaccination certificates.

- Nursery education is of a high standard and often council-run. Opening times are 0800-1730 (may vary per region) and the cost is reasonable. To enrol, firstly ensure your child is on the local town hall register ('padron') and therefore within the catchment area. After that you will require: 2 photos, medical/vaccination certificates, copy of entry on town hall padron, child's passport, birth certificate, copy of mother's passport, marriage certificate and social security card.

- Infant/Primary schools are for ages 3 to 14. No uniform, teachers called by first names, open 0900-1700 (may vary per region) with a 2-3 hour break in the middle.

- Secondary schools ('Instituto') are for ages 14-18. School hours 0800-1500 (may vary per region).

Added March 2007 by Michelle:
My children go to state school in Nerja (primary) and the hours are 9-2 only. The infant schools are the same, there are a couple of exceptions in the Senior schools which run a bit later once a week. (My children also wear a uniform, but this is just because it is partly funded by the church - the other schools in the area do not wear uniforms.) Also school books have to be bought by the parents for Infants and Seniors, in Andalucia they have just extended Free books to all Primary children I think.

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