Steps into Spain

Find the right school for your child in Madrid and Málaga

I’ve visited over 300 schools and helped more than 500 families find the right fit for their children. Tell me about your family and we’ll take it from there.

Sinéad Galvin

Founder

WHAT I DO

How We Help Families Find the Right School in Madrid & Málaga

Late Application Lifeline Service

School Search & Enrolment

Finding the right school for your child in Madrid and Málaga.

Royal Treatment School Search Package

Family Relocation Support

Visas, housing and paperwork, through our trusted relocation partners.

school service packages

Activities, Camps & Tutors

Summer camps, language classes, extracurricular activities and private tutors.

Success Stories

Right away we had a checklist of her process and what to expect… Whatever system she uses for keeping tabs on her families and making sure nobody misses anything, it is impeccable.
Diana Forbes
Moving to Madrid with a 13-year-old
She made us aware of several resources available for special needs children in Madrid… Sinead really is a wonderful advocate for families and children.
Kimberly Lawrence
Moving from the US, with a child with additional needs
We felt supported and reassured the whole way… Two months into the school year, the girls are settled and happy.
Helena Requero Bravo
Moving from London with two daughters
Ours was late admission process and Sinead stood by us through the whole process and ensured we get into one of our preferred schools.
Maria Sangeetha Anthony
A late application

Pricing Plan Packages

School Search Packages

Whether you’re relocating to Madrid or Málaga or already living here, there’s a service to suit how much support your family needs.

Our Royal Treatment package is the most popular because it gives families everything they need: personalised advice, full admissions support and ongoing guidance until their child is successfully enrolled.

Royal Treatment

€ 1500 + VAT

Ideal for families who want expert, one-to-one support in choosing the right school. We personally select three to four schools and accompany you on visits to share insights and honest advice.

Shared Journey

€ 900 + VAT

Great for families who want school selection advice but prefer to handle enrolment independently. We'll choose up to three schools and provide detailed information.

Late Lifeline

€ 950 + VAT

Tailored for families applying to public or concertado schools outside regular deadlines. We’ll guide you through each step with clarity and calm, so you feel supported throughout the process.

Hourglass

Hourly services

€ 225

Perfect for families needing guidance on a specific school-related question. Ideal when you don’t yet need a full school search but want expert clarity on one area or concern.

A clear, structured way to get started

At Steps into Spain, we work closely with families to understand their priorities, practical realities and, most importantly, their child’s needs, so that every school recommendation is informed, realistic and tailored from the very beginning.

When you work with us, we take the time to get to know your family’s situation properly. If your child is old enough, we're always happy to include them at the appropriate stage of the process. Their voice matters, and involving them often helps make the transition smoother.

Together, we'll identify the school that best matches your child's needs, strengths and potential.

Personalised Support

From the moment we begin working together, you’ll receive clear, unbiased advice tailored to your family’s specific needs. Every school we recommend is carefully selected with your family’s situation in mind — your practical realities, personal priorities and, above all, your child’s happiness.

Ongoing Guidance

Open, honest communication is at the heart of how Steps into Spain works. We’ll be there to answer your questions and guide you through every stage of the school admissions process, so you always feel informed, supported and confident in the decisions you make.

Together, we’ll find the right school in Madrid or Málaga where your child can truly thrive.

Services breakdown

We take the time to properly understand your family’s situation, priorities and your child’s needs, so that any guidance we provide is genuinely tailored from the outset.

We help you understand how different school options work in real life, so you can make decisions based on genuine fit rather than assumptions or marketing.

We’ll prepare a carefully curated shortlist of schools for your chosen city (Madrid or Málaga), with availability confirmed, that truly reflects your child’s needs and your family’s priorities. Every recommendation is based solely on what best suits your situation—not a generic list.

If needed, we’ll also provide neighbourhood guidance to help you choose areas that align with your preferred schools, daily commute and family lifestyle.

If you’re visiting Madrid or Málaga before your move, we can arrange school visits and coordinate assessment dates for you. We’ll join you on visits to provide honest, independent insights, highlight what really matters and help you feel confident in every decision. Our goal is to make each visit meaningful and a positive step towards finding the right school for your child.

We’ll take care of all the practical steps—from school admissions forms and registration fees to managing communication with each school’s admissions team. You’ll have ongoing email and phone support throughout your school search journey, so you’ll always feel informed, reassured and supported, right through to your child’s first day.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Steps into Spain do?

Steps into Spain is a boutique education consultancy based in Madrid and also offering services for those living or relocating to Málaga. We help families — particularly those relocating from abroad — to find the right school for their child and navigate the admissions process with confidence. Support ranges from early-stage guidance through to full school search and enrolment, as well as related relocation support when needed.

Do you only help with international schools?

No. We support families across all school types in Madrid and Málaga— public (state), concertado (semi-private), private and international. That includes Spanish-only schools, bilingual programmes (Spanish/English), and a wide range of curricula. Advice is always based on fit, not labels.

How do families usually get started?

That depends on where you are in the process. Every family's situation is different, so the best place to start is a quick chat about yours — what's bringing you to Spain, your children's ages, and what matters most to you in a school.

What school search services do you offer?

We offer four services depending on how much support you need. Royal Treatment (€1,500) — full one-to-one support from first conversation through to confirmed enrolment. Our most comprehensive option. Shared Journey (€900) — expert shortlisting and advice, with families handling enrolment independently. Late Application Lifeline (€950) — for families applying outside the standard admissions window who need to move quickly. Hourglass Consultation — a focused one-hour session for a specific question or decision. Priced on enquiry. All services are available in Madrid and Málaga. A sibling can be added to any package for €100. Not sure which is right for you? Book your free call and let's chat.

What happens if we miss the regular application deadline?

That’s where our “Late Lifeline” package comes in. We guide you through all required documentation (even tasks like city-registration / empadronamiento if needed), liaise with schools, and support your application — even if you arrive late or apply out of season.

Do you only help with school placement, or can you assist with full relocation?

We offer a full relocation service. That includes help with housing, visas or paperwork, Spanish classes, pet travel (if relevant), after-school activities, private tutors — everything families commonly need when moving to Madrid or Málaga.

Can you help families who don’t speak Spanish?

Yes. Steps into Spain was created with non-Spanish-speaking families in mind. We support families through school selection, admissions, paperwork and the initial settling-in — helping make the transition much easier.

What if we only need help with one thing (e.g. Spanish school selection, tuition, language support)?

That’s fine. Our hourly “Hourglass Guidance” service is ideal for families who need help with a single issue: curriculum advice, language support, application questions, special needs considerations etc. No need to commit to a full school search.

Now offering school search services in Málaga

Steps into Spain now offers personalised school search, admissions support, and relocation guidance for international families moving to Málaga and the Costa del Sol.

Leading our Málaga service is Nikko Hinderstein, an American who has lived in Spain since 2004 and been based in Málaga since 2017. As a mum herself, she understands first-hand what families need when settling into a new city and finding the right school for their child.

Find the Right School in Madrid & Málaga

Is your family relocating to Málaga?

Meet the founder

SINÉAD GALVIN

Hello! My name is Sinéad Galvin, and I am the founder of the boutique education consultancy, Steps into Spain. I am also a very proud (and busy!) mum of three.

Experience and Successful Beginnings

Since founding Steps into Spain in 2020, I have assisted over 500 families in finding the school in Madrid that best suits their child.

My experience teaching English in public schools in Madrid inspired me to set up Steps into Spain, allowing me to share my insights and knowledge with often bewildered families.

Stepping Into a Future of Continued Success

I have personally visited over 300 schools and counting, and I am always speaking to parents at these schools to get all the latest news and updates to share with my clients.

Finding the right school for your child is a fundamental part of a successful move. A happy child means a happy parent and I am here to ensure that this process is as seamless and stress-free as possible.

Steps into Spain Blog

Our Latest News

An inside look at All schools, their educational programmes, and more

Professional services for schools

Strategic School Audit

Boost Your School's Visibility and Increase Enrolment

Ideal for schools that need professional external assistance in increasing student enrolment numbers.

"Working with Sinead has been a pleasure. She is professional and thorough, she knows the school market and really gets what parents are looking for in a school. To get an external professional’s perspective has been incredibly helpful for us to pin point our schools strengths and identify areas of improvement."
*Late School Application
Head of British school, Madrid
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