Help your child feel confident starting a Spanish or bilingual school in Madrid
Starting school in a new language can feel like a big leap for both children and parents. Our School Transition Programme is designed to make that leap a little easier.
Over 2-6 months, our qualified primary teachers work with your child on the subjects and skills they will encounter in a Spanish or bilingual school. Through games, stories and hands-on activities, children gain confidence, independence, and a positive attitude to learning in Spanish.
Why prioritise a transition period for your children?
It’s not always as simple as “they’ll pick it up”
Many people think that starting school when moving to a new country is easy – children are like sponges and will work it out as they go. With nearly 10 years of experience advising families moving to Madrid, we’ve seen that it’s a lot more complicated and truly depends on each child.
You might think the problem is solved by enrolling them in an English or French-speaking school, but that often just delays the challenge. Over time, children can feel left out during playtime, or struggle to join extracurricular activities because of the language barrier.
What starts as a simple language issue can evolve into long-term confidence problems, reluctance to participate, fear of speaking, or even an aversion to Spanish altogether.
By setting your child up for success from the outset, you help them step confidently into any school environment, fully prepared and excited for what lies ahead.
How our Spanish school transition course works
Step 1: Parent meeting
We start with a meeting with you, our School Manager and Director of Studies, to learn about your child’s personality, their future school, and your family’s goals.
Step 2: Personalised plan
Based on this, we design a plan tailored to your child. Most programmes run 2 hours per day, 3 days per week, offering the right balance of structure and flexibility.
Step 3: Learning in action
Our qualified teachers guide your child through engaging activities, focusing on Lengua, Matemáticas, and the wider skills they’ll need to thrive in class.
Step 4: Ongoing feedback
We keep communication open with regular updates so you always know how your child is progressing and growing in confidence.
We know that Lengua and Matemáticas are the subjects that cause the most concern when kids are starting school in Spain for the first time. That’s why we dedicate extra focus to these areas… all while keeping learning fun and engaging.
By the end of the programme, children will:
- Be familiar with classroom routines in Spanish
- Recognise and use key vocabulary across subjects
- Develop confidence in Lengua and Matemáticas
- Practise following instructions, joining group activities, and expressing themselves
- Feel excited, not overwhelmed, about starting school
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Age group: 4–12 years (children preparing to enter Spanish or bilingual schools)
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Duration: 3–6 months
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Schedule: 2 hours/day, 3+ days per week
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Start dates: Flexible enrolment throughout the year
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Location: LAE Kids, Barrio Salamanca, Madrid
Frequently Asked Questions about our School Transition Program
If you’re moving to Spain with your family, our Spanish immersion program helps your family to adapt to the Spanish school curriculum and enables kids to start their school life in Spain with confidence.
What age group is the School Transition Programme for?
This programme is designed for children aged 4 to 8 years old who are preparing to enter a Spanish or bilingual school in Madrid. Each plan is adapted to your child’s age, background, and level of Spanish.
Does my child need to know Spanish before starting?
Not at all! We specialise in helping beginners feel confident. Our teachers introduce Spanish naturally through games, songs, and classroom activities so your child learns in context and at their own pace.
What subjects do you focus on?
We dedicate special attention to Lengua (Spanish language) and Matemáticas, as these are often the most challenging for children starting in Spanish schools. We also build familiarity with everyday classroom routines, instructions, and vocabulary across subjects like science, art, and PE.
How long does the programme last?
Most families choose a duration of 3 to 6 months, depending on how soon their child will start school and their current level of Spanish. We’ll help you decide what’s best during your initial meeting.
How many hours per week are recommended?
Most programmes run for 2 hours per day, 3 or more days per week. This can be increased to 10 hours per week or even 20 hours if needed. This provides the consistency needed for language acquisition while keeping learning fun and balanced.
Are the classes private or in groups?
These are individual programs, tailor made to ensure success for your family.
Hear direct from Xavi’s dad about how LAE Kids supported his family’s transition to Spain
The ultimate goal for this family was to raise their children to be bilingual — to view Spanish not as a second language but as an integral part of their lives. They envision their children comfortably engaging with Spanish speakers and traveling across Spain, Latin America, and beyond – they’d taken a year’s sabatical to live in Spain and experience life here to start them on their path. Thanks to LAE Kids, the whole family felt more confident here in Madrid living a bilingual life!
