Having a child: Children and young people’s education

When parents return to work, children will need to be looked after by family members or in a nursery until they turn three.

After the age of three, children can attend kindergarten (pre-school education) until they are old enough to begin compulsory education. After kindergarten there is primary and secondary education, with compulsory schooling spanning a total of 12 years.

This section is organized as follows:

Up to three years old (nurseries, nannies, others)

From the age of 3 months, until the age they can start kindergarten, parents can access social support services such as childminders (childcare professionals who look after children in their home), creches (social and educational spaces for children) or nurseries (where the childcarer looks after children within an establishment).

Access to this support depends on there being childminders or nurseries close to where the family lives, and on places being available. The cost of childminders and nurseries is calculated on the basis of the family’s income.

To find out more about support available for childminders and nurseries, parents should contact:

All children born on or after 1 September 2021 are entitled to free childcare with childminders or at nurseries.

For more information about the network of free nurseries, visit the Social Security portal.

Pre-school and primary education

From the age of 3 (birthdays before 15 September), children can be enrolled in the public pre-school education network. If a child turns 3 between 16 September and 16 December, they can be enrolled if places are available.

Enrolments for primary and pre-school education can be made:

 

Enrolment is renewed automatically in subsequent years, unless the child is transferred to another pre-school or kindergarten.

Find out more about applying for enrolment and renewing enrolment in pre-school, primary and secondary education.

If you choose to enrol your child in private education or a Private Social Welfare Institution, you should contact that institution directly.

Parents have the right to 4 hours off work per quarter to visit the school to talk to their children’s teachers.

When children reach the age of 6 (birthdays before 15 September), they start primary school. The enrolment process is the same as for pre-school.

Depending on the family’s income, children may be entitled to a contribution towards school costs (meals, transport, books and school supplies). This support must be requested at the time of enrolment.

Children at risk of developmental disorders

Children up to the age of 6 who are at risk of developmental delay may be entitled to an Individual Early Intervention Plan. Families should be assessed by the Local Early Childhood Intervention Team [Equipa Local de Intervenção Precoce na Infância, ELI] to receive this plan.

The ELI team of practitioners supports the child and family until the child starts primary school. If the child continues to need support, an assessment will be carried out and an Individual Education Plan drawn up when the child starts kindergarten or school.

Find out how to request an assessment for Special Education support products.

Children with Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Children with Special Educational Needs (SEN) are entitled to:

  • an adapted teaching process and assessment of their needs
  • specialised support from teachers, therapists and psychologists
  • textbooks in braille, digital and DAISY (Digital Accessible Information System) formats
  • support products such as computers, tablets, braille displays, screen readers, speech synthesisers, as well as software for communication, listening, reading and calculation
  • school transport.

Children who are deaf and blind, or children with impaired vision, can attend referral schools with resources suitable for their needs. Children with autism spectrum disorders with multiple disabilities and congenital deaf-blindness can attend structured teaching and specialised support units.

Children with ongoing SEN can attend the school best suited to their needs, regardless of their area of residence.

The child can be assessed at school

To benefit from this support, caregivers should ask the school to assess the child and draw up their individual Education Plan.

Children who attend a special education school or receive educational support may be entitled to receive a special education allowance. In some cases, they may attend a private special education school free of charge.

Information updated on March 15, 2024