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View Full Version : Do Spanish schools recognize ADHD in children?



emm
29-02-2012, 16:48
Hi there, does anyone know if spanish schools recognise adhd. We're moving to tenerife shortly and my 9 year old has been diagnosed. Many thanks

bonitatime
29-02-2012, 18:38
Kirsty Jay might know or Mrs Teddy

MrsTT
29-02-2012, 19:15
I'm not sure if they do. Our centre caters for children with individual needs. I was a Special Needs Teacher for many years before I became a Headteacher in the UK. I spent two years as the Advisory Teacher for Special Needs for the county team for Lincolnshire. You might like to visit us and see if we can help support your 9 year old. The link is in my signature.

emm
29-02-2012, 21:04
thanks so much, i'll try and have his report translated anyway, but that would be great.

KirstyJay
29-02-2012, 22:10
I'm not sure if they do. Our centre caters for children with individual needs. I was a Special Needs Teacher for many years before I became a Headteacher in the UK. I spent two years as the Advisory Teacher for Special Needs for the county team for Lincolnshire. You might like to visit us and see if we can help support your 9 year old. The link is in my signature.Actually they do. There are schools that deal with special needs and those that don't. My school in Agua Dulce has a specialist unit for special needs. It really depends on the school and whether it is equipped. CEIP Teobaldo Power is, you would have to inquire individually at other schools. The unit is referred to as 'aula enclave'. I'm not sure how ADHD translates into spanish though.

fonica
01-03-2012, 12:06
If you are planning to put your son in a Spanish school,does he speak Spanish? If not, I think you will find his ADHD will become harder to deal with in an enviroment where he can't make himself understood. In my experience on the island the special needs provision for children who do not communicate in Spanish,is poor or just not available, especially in these times of cost cutting in education and health.

glostergirl
01-03-2012, 13:04
if you want a mothers opinion with a child that has been diagnosed here in tenerife 2 years ago then the answer is no!!! my son has been going to salud mental in santa cruz for appointments with them over this period if hes lucky a appointment once a month!! has a home physciatrist who makes appointments then cancels them!!! has been expelled from two schools because all special help withdrawn due to the crisis!!! their only solution here is tablets!! there is no centre here for kids with adhd!! nor is their one for the future!! i was lucky i had social services to help me get every help that was available now we are at the end of the line!! my personal opinion stay where you are let your child receive better in uk care cos there isnt any help here and its not going to change due to the crisis!! rant over x

MrsTT
01-03-2012, 17:47
There is an information site here http://spain.angloinfo.com/family/schooling-education/special-needs/ that may help you.

In my experience I have found that help for children with special needs is patchy if you can even find a school that says it caters for such children. One of the children in my school has reached me because all other services available on the island did not suit him or meet his needs. We have been working together now for over 18 months and he is making very good progress.

However, one of my former pupils,who was struggling in Spanish School and who had some learning difficulties, worked with me for 15 months, and is now, at 14, successfully back in the Spanish system at the secondary school in Los Cristianos. They seem to have a good system in place for meeting individual needs and she has settled in there very happily. A double bonus for me as she had to overcome her previous bad experience in her Spanish primary school, as well as catch up areas of learning.

emm
01-03-2012, 19:16
The english system isn't so different I'm afraid, my son was diagnosed also 2 years ago and has been passed from pillar to post and again they only seem to offer medication, which I've refused. Luckily his ADHD seems to be managed well with therapies we can implement at home, (his school has only recently realised that the fact he is so easily distracted, results in his lack of concentration and they have therefore looked for ways to minimise the distractions). He is not badly behaved or aggressive with it but presents with high energy levels and the usual problems with handwriting etc. If we can work on this ourselves or even ask for advice from MrsTT at callaolearning, then hopefully we should be ok. He is so keen to learn spanish, the culture and is so outgoing and friendly it would be a shame to give up without trying.

MrsTT
01-03-2012, 20:43
I was one of the first trained special needs co-ordinators in a primary school in Lincolnshire in the 80's. All special needs provision in my experience since then, and whilst I was a Headteacher for 9 years, has been the luck of the draw and whether funds permitted the provision to be sustained. I have spent hours in meetings arguing my corner for children in my school, only to be let down time and again.

As more is known about different conditions, and more children are diagnosed, there is less funding to support them. Teachers are expected to integrate these children in mainstream classes without any training and little support. Other parents get frustrated at the disruption to their child's education by the inclusion of pupils who demand teacher time and attention. Local authorities demand standards of SATs must not fall but if children are dealing with other issues, then 'scores on the doors' are not the priority for them! Schools refuse or exclude these pupils and it becomes a vicious circle.

I spent time in a FE college working with 16 year olds who had slipped through the system and did not have the skills of an average 7 year old in reading, writing & maths. It is a frustrating waste of time, energy & resources.

All of these experiences is why I am here working with children in my own way. I spotted a weakness in the system here which does not support children who are having difficulties with the 'norm' for their age group, and we are successfully helping them overcome some of their difficulties.

glostergirl
01-03-2012, 20:49
shame there wasnt more people here mrsTT like yourself for these children!! my son has been expelled from two spanish schools the second one just recently!! because they cannot help him as the teachers for children have been dismissed because of lack of money and understandably the class teachers do not have the time to spend one to one with my son so he becomes disruptive.

emm
01-03-2012, 21:02
we've had problems with the 'system' in the uk. After a diagnosis over two years ago, we waited over a year on NHS waiting list to be seen, only to then be put back on the waiting list, and we're still waiting. Even the private clinics (which are not close by) have long waiting lists. I found research, speaking to other parents and trial and error the best way forward. Sensory stimulation and activities are the best things ever and they don't have to be expensive.

MrsTT
01-03-2012, 21:38
we've had problems with the 'system' in the uk. After a diagnosis over two years ago, we waited over a year on NHS waiting list to be seen, only to then be put back on the waiting list, and we're still waiting. Even the private clinics (which are not close by) have long waiting lists. I found research, speaking to other parents and trial and error the best way forward. Sensory stimulation and activities are the best things ever and they don't have to be expensive.

There seems to be a good parent support system on Facebook for children with various degrees of autism and other difficulties. https://www.facebook.com/groups/199516526759632/ Autism Buddies is one of them.

fonica
02-03-2012, 10:11
Take all of the above into account and then add the fact that for 5 hours a day this child is going to be in a room full of people who don't speak his language and you would have an excellent case for child abuse!!! Strong words but the parents should have to spend a week in the Spanish classroom before subjecting their children to the same.The children also become prime targets for bullies and very little is done about this in Spanish schools. The teaching staff here are used to British children arriving in there classrooms with little or no knowledge of Spanish,they work to try and integrate the child who then disappears, usually within a short time returning back to wherever! Hence little or no interest the next time around.

KirstyJay
02-03-2012, 13:04
If you are planning to put your son in a Spanish school,does he speak Spanish? If not, I think you will find his ADHD will become harder to deal with in an environment where he can't make himself understood. In my experience on the island the special needs provision for children who do not communicate in Spanish,is poor or just not available, especially in these times of cost cutting in education and health.Why should there be a provision in the Spanish system for kids that don't speak Spanish though? It's like saying that in British schools all Polish children have to have Polish-speaking teachers. This is not the case... though you may argue that there are some social workers that speak the language, they are certainly not enough for the number of children. There are many teachers that can speak English in the state system here, but you can't base your decisions on there being a teacher to deal with your needs in English in a foreign country's education system. If you send your child to a school within the public system, then you have to expect that there will be an integration period while the child adapts to the new language. If you can't, the go private. That's your choice, but you certainly can't expect the system to pander to the minority.


if you want a mothers opinion with a child that has been diagnosed here in tenerife 2 years ago then the answer is no!!! my son has been going to salud mental in santa cruz for appointments with them over this period if hes lucky a appointment once a month!! has a home physciatrist who makes appointments then cancels them!!! has been expelled from two schools because all special help withdrawn due to the crisis!!! their only solution here is tablets!! there is no centre here for kids with adhd!! nor is their one for the future!! i was lucky i had social services to help me get every help that was available now we are at the end of the line!! my personal opinion stay where you are let your child receive better in uk care cos there isnt any help here and its not going to change due to the crisis!! rant over x

Thanks for posting your comments, it certainly gives a first hand experience, which is really useful to this thread. :) I probably agree, having worked in schools with and without special needs units that it really does depend on the school and staff as to what level of service you'd get. Unfortunately there are two problems with this... firstly, you have to research every school individually before you come and make sure they have the appropriate resources and staff... not an easy task, as you would have to contact people in Spanish. Secondly, due to the crap way the spanish teachers are moved round (or can be) every 2 years, how do you know that if you find a good school it will not deteriorate two years down the line as the staff change over...

You have to decide what you want for your child, if you can afford to pay for private care and if not, whether you are able or willing to take on the extra that will undoubtedly come with the relocation and readjustment to another language as well as a new place, new friends, etc etc. Not an easy choice. :)


I was one of the first trained special needs co-ordinators in a primary school in Lincolnshire in the 80's. All special needs provision in my experience since then, and whilst I was a Headteacher for 9 years, has been the luck of the draw and whether funds permitted the provision to be sustained. I have spent hours in meetings arguing my corner for children in my school, only to be let down time and again.

As more is known about different conditions, and more children are diagnosed, there is less funding to support them. Teachers are expected to integrate these children in mainstream classes without any training and little support. Other parents get frustrated at the disruption to their child's education by the inclusion of pupils who demand teacher time and attention. Local authorities demand standards of SATs must not fall but if children are dealing with other issues, then 'scores on the doors' are not the priority for them! Schools refuse or exclude these pupils and it becomes a vicious circle.

This is what I have noticed during our exchange with the UK school. I would not, for love nor money, work as a teacher in the UK... everything seems to be related to performance of the child and results, rather than welfare these days. The rules are too restrictive to let the children be themselves too, and teachers are expected to cope with large classes with no training for problems such as ADHD. It's not quite as bad here, but with the 'crisis' and lack of funds in Education (there have already been many cuts and there will be more) you cannot expect the system to be able to fund it for much longer and services will suffer as a result.

So, you have to weigh up whether you can pay for the support you need privately. If not, you're going to have to work out a way of coping, or stay where you are until you are in a better situation.

Good luck :)


The teaching staff here are used to British children arriving in there classrooms with little or no knowledge of Spanish,they work to try and integrate the child who then disappears, usually within a short time returning back to wherever! Hence little or no interest the next time around.I have to disagree. I find those comments extremely unfair, having witnessed the amount of hours that have been invested in kids in the school I worked in. This has not changed regardless of the number of Expat kids that come through the doors. I think that statement is VERY general. You may get this in SOME schools, but to say the whole system is like this is not right. It depends on the school and it's staff.

MrsTT
03-03-2012, 11:24
I have just been in contact with a friend in UK who has spent the last year building link for her autistic son to go to an excellent school for his needs, three miles away from their home. It is just across a county border, where 5 counties meet. She had a terribly stressful afternoon yesterday because his placement letter from his county put him 20 miles and two bus rides away from his house, in a school not designated to meet his special needs. Her county hadn't realised he was autistic, despite the mountain of paperwork from them over the last year.

The receiving school county hadn't processed his application, and neither county had talked to the other. The school have assured her of a place and it will be sorted for September but she has enough to deal with already with her son's needs without this nonsense. In these days of computerisation and ease of communication, it continues to appal me that children and their families cannot be supported. It was hard enough when you had to type everything and wait for the mail or a fax but nowadays....should be easier. The seamless joined up provision that was envisaged in the 1988 act is still a million miles away from reality whilst expectations are continually raised by government announcements.

fonica
03-03-2012, 14:08
Why should there be a provision in the Spanish system for kids that don't speak Spanish though? It's like saying that in British schools all Polish children have to have Polish-speaking teachers. This is not the case... though you may argue that there are some social workers that speak the language, they are certainly not enough for the number of children. There are many teachers that can speak English in the state system here, but you can't base your decisions on there being a teacher to deal with your needs in English in a foreign country's education system. If you send your child to a school within the public system, then you have to expect that there will be an integration period while the child adapts to the new language. If you can't, the go private. That's your choice, but you certainly can't expect the system to pander to the minority.



Thanks for posting your comments, it certainly gives a first hand experience, which is really useful to this thread. :) I probably agree, having worked in schools with and without special needs units that it really does depend on the school and staff as to what level of service you'd get. Unfortunately there are two problems with this... firstly, you have to research every school individually before you come and make sure they have the appropriate resources and staff... not an easy task, as you would have to contact people in Spanish. Secondly, due to the crap way the spanish teachers are moved round (or can be) every 2 years, how do you know that if you find a good school it will not deteriorate two years down the line as the staff change over...

You have to decide what you want for your child, if you can afford to pay for private care and if not, whether you are able or willing to take on the extra that will undoubtedly come with the relocation and readjustment to another language as well as a new place, new friends, etc etc. Not an easy choice. :)



This is what I have noticed during our exchange with the UK school. I would not, for love nor money, work as a teacher in the UK... everything seems to be related to performance of the child and results, rather than welfare these days. The rules are too restrictive to let the children be themselves too, and teachers are expected to cope with large classes with no training for problems such as ADHD. It's not quite as bad here, but with the 'crisis' and lack of funds in Education (there have already been many cuts and there will be more) you cannot expect the system to be able to fund it for much longer and services will suffer as a result.

So, you have to weigh up whether you can pay for the support you need privately. If not, you're going to have to work out a way of coping, or stay where you are until you are in a better situation.

Good luck :)

I have to disagree. I find those comments extremely unfair, having witnessed the amount of hours that have been invested in kids in the school I worked in. This has not changed regardless of the number of Expat kids that come through the doors. I think that statement is VERY general. You may get this in SOME schools, but to say the whole system is like this is not right. It depends on the school and it's staff.
Hold fire!!! I'm on the side of the teaching staff and well understand their frustrations.So many families come over here from the UK without ever considering how they are going to live or where their children will go to school.For many it becomes the land of broken dreams. It's hard to survive here if you have a profession,a home and some money behind you.With children,no work and rent to pay it's impossible.Add to this a child with some special needs who doesn't speak the language and I just want to beg the parents to stay in the UK and spend their holidays here. In many schools on the island,the extra support staff for language and special needs have already become a thing of the past and we haven't seen anything yet!!! The cuts in education and health are going to be drastic and with 270,000 unemployed people on the islands and more than 5 million in Spain as a whole, the problems are going to get a whole lot worse.I have been here for almost 30 years and seen many families struggle but I never imagined the hardshˇps that families are facing now. We should not be encouraging families to come here unless they are well prepared both financially and with stable job offers. SOrry if I upset you and well done for all the hard work that I a sure you have put in whilst working in your school.

emm
03-03-2012, 20:26
thanks for your comments. however my husband does have a job offer, we do have money behind us and we have been learning the language. Personally I was made redundant in October (the third time in 5 years) and jobs are extremely hard to find here too. I've applied for so many jobs here, including those to take a step down in my career, but with 200 other applicants for each, there isn't much hope. utility bills are going up drastically where we live from next month, the main industries in the north east are all closing down and can only try to save approx 60 jobs per 2000, and add to that the local council is closing three quarters of community centres, the kids who's parents are struggling to cope end up hanging about on the streets. I don't let my kids play out as there have been others as young as 9/10 threating to stab teenagers who walk along the streets. We don't even live in a particularly bad area, but this is the way it has become here. Another local 'nice' estate saw two 9 year olds from my son's class taken and abused by teenagers from a local senior school and the police don't do anything.

I'm really sorry if you don't agree with our plans, and if things don't work out then in the future we may return, but after talking with friends here they say they wish they were in our position, and more importantly the friends we know out there have explained the pros and cons, but even with all the downsides, they wouldn't move back.

Missingthereef
03-03-2012, 21:49
Read this thread with interest emm, lots to think about eh? Seems like you have made your decision...If you can afford the move and are able to keep your options open...Go for it! Don't know where you are planning to settle but MrsTT's new school sounds ideal (No - I am not related! Used to be in the teaching biz though). Best of luck.

MrsTT
04-03-2012, 14:04
Found another support site on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Autism-Support-Network/150100405892?sk=wall

magdalenaadeje
07-03-2012, 11:17
emm

i have one sohn from 20 with adhd i lived in holland germany and now here in tenerife
i have also a sohn from 14 years old with problems but i am happy living here because
off the possibility too go too the beach it relax hime and it is going much better with him
he also plays rugby 5 times a week
the school is a problem i have too explain every time that my sohn normaly always hat a school for
children with special needs not that the schools in germany our holland where better but they did not
complain so much as here i have one luck i think i speak perfect spanische so when there is a problem at
school a go there and speak with the teachers
i child with adhd is always difficult i can write a book about al the problems i hat with my big sohn
but when you ask me give at a tray problems with schools you will always have no matter witch country

sorry for my bad inglish