The early childhood education stage occurs in two cycles; the first cycle is for
children from 0 -3, and the second cycle is for children ages 3 – 6. At the age of 6,
compulsory education commences in Spain.
The main goals of
pre-primary education
include the development
of social interaction skills,
affective and cognitive
development, and basic
numeracy, literacy and
language skills.
Compulsory primary education begins at the age of six and lasts for six years. There are three
two-year cycles. The first cycle (primer ciclo) is for children from age six to eight years of age. During
these two years the child is assessed every term and parents are issued with a report. At the end of
this cycle a child may need to repeat a year if they have not reached the education level needed to
carry on to the next cycle.
The curriculum requirements for the second
cycle of pre-primary education are established
at the national level, in the Organic Law on
Education and the Royal Decree 1630/2006.
For children under the age of six is not compulsory
The second cycle (segundo ciclo) is for children aged eight to
ten years. The third cycle (tercer ciclo) is for ten to twelve year
olds and serves to prepare them for secondary education. A
child may be asked to repeat a year if they have not reached
the education level needed to carry on to the next cycle.
The primary curriculum includes natural and social sciences, the Spanish
language and literature, an autonomous language and literature if
applicable , mathematics, physical education, plastic and visual arts, and a
foreign language and optional Catholic religion
Almost all 4-year-olds in Spain are enrolled in pre-primary education (OECD average of 84%), as well
as a large proportion of 3 year-olds (over 90% in Spain). In the majority of OECD countries, most
children start school well before the age of five. Early childhood education is associated with better
performance in school later on. Fifteen-year-old students who attended pre-primary education
perform better
In 2013, one in four 15-29 year-olds in Spain was neither employed nor in
education or training (NEET) far more than the OECD average (15%).In contrast
to most other OECD countries, the largest share of young Spanish adults who
are neither employed nor in education or training are unemployed (20%; the
OECD average is 7%), not inactive (7%; the OECD average is 8%).
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.7% male: 98.5% female: 97% (2010 est.)