Getting school support for a child with additional needs in Mallorca
If your child is struggling at school in Mallorca, request a meeting with their class teacher or tutor and ask who coordinates educational guidance at the school. Bring specific examples of what your child finds difficult, what helps and what you’d like to understand. If your child hasn’t started school yet, raise their needs with the admissions office and the school when you apply.
What to ask the school
Explain what you and your child have noticed. Ask what the teacher sees in class, what adjustments could start now and who will review progress with you. Ask whether the school’s guidance team should be involved and whether an educational or psychopedagogical assessment would be appropriate.
The Balearic education authority describes its educational guidance services as identifying and assessing specific educational support needs and helping schools, children and families. The team involved can depend on your child’s age and school.
Bring reports from your previous school or clinician
Bring useful school reports, examples of work and any assessments already completed. Ask which documents need translating and what information the school can use straight away. Ask how it will distinguish language acquisition from other learning needs and whether it can arrange language support for the meeting.
Agree on practical next steps
Ask who owns each action, what support the school can put in place, what the review date is and whether you can have a written summary. If you are considering a private assessment, ask the school and clinician how a report might inform school support. Educational and clinical assessments can answer different questions.
Useful vocabulary in English, Spanish and Catalan
| English | Spanish | Catalan |
|---|---|---|
| Educational guidance | orientación educativa | orientació educativa |
| Educational support needs | necesidades específicas de apoyo educativo | necessitats específiques de suport educatiu |
| Psychopedagogical assessment | evaluación psicopedagógica | avaluació psicopedagògica |
| Class teacher / tutor | tutor / tutora | tutor / tutora |
| Support measures | medidas de apoyo | mesures de suport |
Frequently asked questions
Can I ask for help before my child has a diagnosis?
You can request a meeting and ask what the school can put in place while it considers assessment or referral.
Will a report from abroad be accepted?
Ask the school’s guidance team what it can use, whether it needs a translation and whether a local assessment is needed.
Who do I contact if we’re applying for a place?
Tell the schooling office and prospective school early and ask about the application route and any evidence needed for support.
Listen to the Majorca Mallorca Podcast
- Julie Holdsworth on education and helping multilingual children settle in
- Martyn Staley on Mallorca’s state and private education systems
Official information
- Balearic education authority’s guidance and assessment teams
- Balearic school admissions and schooling offices
Related guides
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