Special educational needs are not something that the education system in any one country has ever got 100% accurate. There is always a margin of error as not everyone with SEN has the same diagnosis, and not everyone who has the same diagnosis has the same symptoms. Complicated!

So by taking a personal look at the Spanish education system I see many areas where improvements could and should be made, especially for children with autistic spectrum disorders (ASD) and those who suffer from language and communication disorders as well as children with dyslexia and many areas where the Spanish education system is actually more defined than the UK by learning methods rather than by achieving status and goal setting.

Apart from there being a free (other than stationery supplies) education for children who are residents of Lanzarote in the public schools, the system itself is remarkable in the way it focuses primarily on the child and the child’s achievements rather than in assessments and target setting. There may or may not be a uniform (school dependent), lessons are morning based with children mostly being home by 1.30pm unless there are specified afternoon activities or your child attends a local private school which usually operate until 4pm and costs approx €4000p.a The Spanish education system also follows a policy of exams and grades being passed before the child can progress into the next academic year.

This type of education system is perfect for children with learning disabilities as it  read more »

Children from six years old can train with the new Lanzarote Rookie Lifeguard Club which starts in January 2012.

The Rookie Lifeguard programme aims to teach children what to do in an emergency and the dangers of open water swimming, essential if you live on an island as we do. There are three stages of  read more »

The Ayuntamiento of Yaiza have announced the details of sports classes available for children to attend in the south of Lanzarote.

Parents can select classes ranging from football, gymnastics, karate, table tennis, basketball, sailing, handball, Canarian wrestling, tennis, swimming, skating and jui jitsu at the moment, judo and badminton may also  read more »

Francisco Guzmán Rodríguez,the councillor of Education has met with the Canarian Government to explain the urgent need to build a new secondary school in the southern resort of Playa Blanca, Lanzarote.

The local council have asked that steps are taken to  read more »

The first 50 children to arrive at the Chiquiparque event in Lanzarote on Friday will receive a free dinner!

Chiquiparque is a fun event which  read more »

The Lanzarote school term dates for the academic year 2011 / 2012 have been confirmed by La Consejería de Educación. The children start back at primary school (Infantil and Primaria) on the 7th and secondary school on the 13th September 2011.

The fiesta days and school holidays for Christmas and Easter 2012 have been confirmed for Lanzarote as:

Fiesta Nuestra Señora de los Volcanes: 15th September 2011  read more »

The primary school in Costa Teguise has been selected as one of four finalists within the Canary Islands for the Acción Magistral 2011 award.

Of the four finalists, two were primary schools and two secondary schools. The Acción Magistral (Master Action) award is an initiative to reward teachers for the promotion of good social values to their pupils, helping  read more »

There are a few circus events in Lanzarote for children this week.

The first is the Prepárate para el Circo (prepare for the circus) at the Sociedad in Mácher, 7th April at 18:00 to 21:00. The circus class is for children aged from 6 years old and run by the Escuela Canaria de Circo. The circus lesson will include juggling, balancing, balloon modelling and more. It’s provided free of charge in conjunction with the Ayuntamiento of Tías.

Tomorrow  read more »