Marbella preschools

by Tara
(USA Boston born and raised)

Marbella and surrounding area's preschool for 4 year old English speaking boy.

English or Spanish school?

I would welcome any information on Marbella preschools and kindergarten both English and Spanish. Is there are any official schools rating in Marbella? does anyone has a link? I would also like to know if there are any help provided (like social workers)for English speaking children to help with adaptation and learn Spanish?

If you were in the same situation, please share your story.

Any information is truly APPRECIATED!

Tara

Comments for Marbella preschools

Average Rating

Click here to add a COMMENT

Jan 08, 2012
Rating

Public school
by: Anonymous

My son is at Antonio Machado in Marbella and although he is 6 I am applying for his younger brother to start in Sept as he will be 3 by then. It is a primary school, from 3 to 11 I think. It's very good but as with any Spanish public school there are only a few teachers who speak English. If you decide on a public school this is something you will have to deal with, it is us going into their system after all! I do find the school is as helpful as possible and my son has a wonderful teacher. I also know that there is free Spanish classes for 2 hours after school on Mondays and Tuesday although I am not sure if it applies for preschoolers. There are free after school sports also which I send my son to. At this age they are learning the language very quickly and can adapt to being thrown into the culture. I feel this is one of the best ways and also age to do this. It won't be without problems but for us nothing has been so difficult it can't be solved. If you decide on public school don't worry so much about your child learning the language (it will happen easily) and concentrate on learning yourself to make your life easier.

Jan 08, 2012
Rating

San Pedro Schools
by: Anonymous

We live in San Pedro and my three year old has just finished her first term in Maria Theresa Leon, one of the public schools. She had previously been in a Spanish nursery so has adapted well with the language. I have two older children in an international school, but we wanted the youngest to have a good level of Spanish before moving to the English system.

The Infantile area (3-5 year olds) is very much separate to the older children and they are well looked after in a regimented way, there are 25 children in a class. It is a very "old fashioned" non-creative system, but the curriculum and style of teaching is the same as you would find in any private Spanish school. The school has a wide social and racial mix, and they embrace this. We have been very happy with the school and my child is happy to go every day.

I don´t believe that at this level your son will receive any language assistance, and I´m not sure how the school copes with parents who don´t speak Spanish! Once they are learning to read and write many schools offer help, usually about 30 euros a month in after school classes.

If you are moving to the area, you may also like to consider St Georges in San Pedro. There are a lot of Spaniards and other nationalities, and they teach the Spanish and English curriculum, the main language is English, but if you do not speak Spanish it may be better for you as a family if you can communicate.

Jan 08, 2012
Rating

Alboran
by: Zora

I don't have any experience with the Spanish school system, but I hear that Alboran (a private Spanish school) has a good reputation. Check it out.

www.colegioalboran.es

Unfortunately the site is only in Spanish, but try Google Translate for some help. Or contact them by email...maybe someone can answer you in English. If not, try Google Translate again! www.google.com/translate

Jan 06, 2012
Rating

SPANISH PRESCHOOL
by: aphaedra

thanx! well in my opinion and i really have routine now from September, you have to first go and see! the important thing is that the teacher which your child will be in a class, must know English or must communicate the way you do! i mean if she speaks just Spanish than you have to hire a translator for the first period to talk to her properly. in preschool there are no drugs i believe. just up to 6 years in the 1st grade and so. you have to be sure what kind of kids go there and watch the parents when they come and take the kids. you have to go and check everything first! my problem is the same! i lived in ciudad quesada first - near Torrevieja, Alicante, and we belonged after the padron or residency to a public Spanish school where the kids were from all nationalities , Swedish, norveig, danish, English etc. but the kids from Spain they usually little bit aggressive and the parents don't do anything. You have to be sure that your son can defend and stand up for himself. he has to be gritty! my son laughs a lot, smiles, is positive , and well balanced, but in the first period hated the school, cause suffered a lot under not to understand and talk Spanish. after all kids were little bit aggressive, fighting etc. he had to protect himself, i was not there. the teachers not looking properly after the kids! so it is better to have 15 kids in a group not more. but you find this just in private schools. We the parents have to be sure of everything and check everything, that the school is safe etc. usually the meals are not good, so better to choose to eat at home, we experienced both and at the end he eat at home, and so it was great! but i believe if you live in a prestigious suburb - area, it means already that people are already selected, and more intellectual. that's why Marbella on his own is a good area!

Jan 06, 2012
Rating

Good Spanish public schools (Infantil) Where are they?
by: Anonymous

We need to know what Spanish public school (Infantil & Elementary) are considered descent?
By descent I mean good communication with parents(preferred in English) good student grades, various extra curriculum activity. I would also like this school to have not only Spanish but children from other countries. Another words where my blond hair blue eyes all American boy would not feel uncomfortable. If you have experience with Spanish public school system please share! From what I am reading on the Internet, the dominating opinion: Spanish school system is bad, no discipline, drugs and etd. They can't be all bad. Is there are any good one? Where?

Jan 06, 2012
Rating

best Spanish school for toddler 4-6 years old
by: Tara

No, we are still looking for the best Spanish school in the area of Marbella. My understanding there is no official Spanish school ranking. Since we are not in the area yet, it is very hard to acquire any information about the public Spanish schools. If anyone has their children in Spanish public school and are happy, please give the school name and the area where the school located. We are also trying to figure out where we need to look for the place to live. This is very important because of the school assignment to a particular residential area.

Jan 06, 2012
Rating

SPANISH PRESCHOOL
by: aphaedra

hello! i am in the same situation but for 5 years old son. We moved to Spain in september and he is already over the first trimester! in an Spanish public preschool. he did really well, except he didn't understand anything, and didn't speak anything in Spanish, now the teachers told us he has really improved, and i can also see that he is doing really a good job with talking and understanding. :-)) we are really happy! and he is also happy! now will be moving to another area and place, another school from February, so keep fingers crossed that everything will be fine and we can accumulate without problems! :-))
So i can really recommend first the Spanish school and than the English one!

did you already find a good one in your area?

regards, Alexandra

Jan 03, 2012
Rating

Party preschool for kids in Marbella
by: Rachael

Totally agree!! Party is great! All staff are so lovely & friendly. My 2nd daughter is now there & gets so excited every time we drop her off. :-)

Jan 03, 2012
Rating

Party preschool in Marbella
by: Simon

Party is very good by the copper tower Marbella. Ana the owner speaks good English and they usually have an English speaking nursery assistant also, great grounding for Español and English

Dec 31, 2011
Rating

Thanks a million!
by: Anonymous

Excellent comments! My idea was putting the child in the English school and start him learning Spanish and then when he is ready transfer him to Spanish school. After reading your comments it makes more sense to me to put him in Spanish school first, where he won't have any choice but learn Spanish.
Great! Thanks for your comments!
Tara

Dec 31, 2011
Rating

Kindergartens in Marbella
by: Marbella Family

There are lots of schools to choose from especially if you are open to the Spanish system. I don't know of an official rating for Marbella schools, however some of these links may be useful to you:

Marbella schools (scroll down to Kindergartens)

Marbella nurseries

Marbella schools & camps

Marbella with babies (scroll down to nurseries/education/playgroups

Q & A on Marbella schools

Public Spanish schools

Marbella state schools

Personally, I would recommend you place your child in a Spanish speaking system to learn the language while he is still young. At only four years old he will surely pick up Spanish easily and even better if he is exposed to the language through school, friends, a babysitter...

Once you see that your son has developed a knack for Spanish (which will happen very quickly), then moving him to an English speaking school is a good idea. My children go to English schools and I find that foreigners do not learn Spanish at a satisfactory (in my opinion) level. Some international schools offer Spanish for native Spanish speakers. I have placed my kids in these groups after a year in "Spanish for foreigners" to force them to improve their Spanish. I also have enrolled them in various local after-school activities that are run in Spanish.

The choices are out there, so I would spend time reading what other parents have to say about their experiences, visiting the school with your son and choose a school that you feel is just right for you child.

Visit our Facebook page and feel free to post your thoughts there. We have a fantastic online community, so join us!

Click here to add a COMMENT

Click here to return to: A: READER INPUT - ask a question.

IS THIS YOUR PAGE?
Click HERE to Reach More Visitors