Success Stories & Testimonials and relocation to Spain

"You can't go wrong with Steps into Spain"

– Jocelyn, mum of 2

   
     
  5.0 70 reviews 
 
  
        
   Steps into Spain - Helping Families To Find The Right School for Your Child in Madrid and Málaga, Spain
   5.070 Google reviews 
 
 
 
        Posted on Google  
   
   Diana Forbes 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.  In moving to a new country and choosing a new school for our 13-year-old, the stakes felt incredibly high. I can't imagine how many additional dozens of hours I would have had to invest in this decision had it not been for Sinead and her team at Steps Into Spain. I'm pleased to say that she not only found a fantastic match for our family's needs and values, but she made the process as simple and proactive as possible. I recommend her highly.

At the risk of going on too long, let me share 3 things that made her my favorite resource in the entire process of moving to Spain:

1) She has been around and knows her stuff! She knows the schools, employee/leadership turnover, family experiences, history, the "vibe" of each school, and so much more. No amount of research or AI could match her expertise and experience provided and CUSTOMIZED specifically to benefit our values and our specific child.

2) There is so much here as an immigrant to Spain that "we don't know what we don't know." With several professionals, we've had to ask if things were happening on time, what the next step was, or if we were doing things correctly. We never had to worry about this with Sinead. Right away we had a checklist of her process and what to expect/next steps. She frequently checked in with email reminders and to see how we were doing. She would even send proactive emails once we were accepted like "So has the school sent you your welcome info yet?" Whatever system she uses for keeping tabs on her families and making sure nobody misses anything, it is impeccable. I joke that she's set the bar so high, she has ruined me for the rest of Spain.

3) I found Sinead to be incredibly professional, yet also personable and down-to-earth. Visiting schools with her was enjoyable and I got to be myself instead of nervous and worrying about remembering everything. She was able to truly get to know us and our child, and that helped us make decisions more easily. I usually second-guess big decisions like this, but Sinead's expertise and recommendations made this process easy by comparison.
  
 
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   waffle 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.  Sinead and her team were a true blessing for our family settling in Madrid.  She guided us through the entire process of finding the best schools for our daughter.  From detailed insights to visits and interviews at the short listed schools, we were able to make the best decision and pick the best school for our 13 year old daughter.

I cannot imagine a better and more profesional service with personal attention from Sinead from start to finish.

I highly recommend steps into Spain.

Thank you !!
  
 
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Camilla Elverum Smith 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.  Brilliant, knowledgeable, and a great resource for us when relocating to Madrid with two young children. Thank you so much for your help and your kindness, Sinéad and co <3
  
 
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Scott Kellum 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.  Sinéad has been an immense help in getting our family situated and into school in Spain.
  
 
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Aimi Muraru 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.  Sinead was super supportive in helping us find a school for our kids in Spain, and went above and beyond to help us- finding the right fit, securing the spaces, liaising with the school and checking in regularly to help communication. She was friendly, professional and great to work with. Would highly recommend.
  
 
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Maira Shafiei 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.  We truly cannot say enough wonderful things about Sinead and her amazing team, Kari and Amy. Moving internationally with children can feel overwhelming, but they made the entire school search and transition to Madrid so much smoother for our family.
From the very beginning, Sinead took the time to truly understand what we were looking for in a school for our children. She personally visited the schools for us, which gave us so much confidence while trying to make such important decisions from abroad.
Sinead, Kari, and Amy were all incredibly responsive, supportive, patient, and helpful throughout the entire process. They assisted with communication between us and the school, answered countless questions, and guided us every step of the way during a very big life transition.
We genuinely could not be happier with the school our children are now attending, and we are so grateful for all the care and dedication they showed our family. We highly recommend Sinead and her team to anyone relocating to Madrid and looking for support finding the right school for their children.
  
 
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Giorgia Marin 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.  We moved from Hong Kong to Madrid with a 14 and 16 years old.
Steps into Spain helped us to research schools, arrange visits and provided feedback on each school for us to consider. Sinead was very kind and proactive on "life" tips in Spain too and that was equally helpful to me.
It was great to have this support to reduce the stress of the move, and we are also happy with our school choice.
I can happily recommend Steps into Spain, our choices were fairly limited because our eldest boy was already in his IB Diploma year, but I can see just walking around Madrid how many international and bilingual schools are around, Steps into Spain can help a lot !
good luck with your move
  
 
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Kimberly Lawrence 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.  We reached out to Sinead months before we relocated from the USA to Spain. Thanks to her guidance, she made us aware of several resources available for special needs children in Madrid. She really knows a lot about the schools and processes which differ greatly from the US. Patience is key when dealing with Spanish bureaucracy and she forewarned us. Shortly after arrival, we engaged Sinead to help us communicate effectively with the local education department and government officials. She attended meetings with us and communicated with them continuously on our behalf. While we had an unusual situation where it took the government agency several months to approve our daughter for school placement, Sinead did not let up and maintained constant contact with us and them. Sinead really is a wonderful advocate for families and children. She is responsive, knowledgeable and a lovely person. We definitely would work with her again.
  
 
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Helena Requero Bravo 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.  We are so glad we found Sinead. We were planning to move from London to Madrid over the summer with our two daughters, and we knew that finding the right school was key to the success of the relocation plan. Even though I was born in Spain and I speak the language I was very worried as navigating the education system and application process can be daunting- not to mention having to do that while planning all other aspects of an international move! Working with Sinead was brilliant, we felt supported and reassured the whole way and her help was priceless: from doing the research, getting the expert insights, to visiting the schools and handling all the paperwork and deadlines. After that, the transition went smoothly. Two months into the school year, the girls are settled and happy :) Massive thanks!
  
 
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Ailyn La Torre La Torre Photography 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.  I would highly recommend Sinead with Steps into Spain to anyone who needs any help with anything related to school in Madrid or anyone transitioning their children into the Spanish School system. Sinead was informative, patient and so wonderful to work with! 5 stars! Thank you again for all your help Sinead!

5.0 61 reviews

Jennie Sullins ★★★★★ a year ago
Sinead was essential is planning our gap year in Madrid. Our 2 boys having a smooth transition was our biggest concern and we wanted to find a school that could help with that. She was great at explaining the whole process and type of schools, the dates that were important, but also more importantly putting us at ease with the decision making. She really listened to what would be best for our kids and helped find a school to align with that as well as get them registered. We did it all remotely from the states and got most everything on our wish list. We now live in Madrid, in a great family friendly neighborhood and are walking distance to our small bilingual school of choice. Thank you Sinead for helping make this happen.
YK O ★★★★★ a year ago
Sinead is a pleasure to work with - she has in depth knowledge of the schools in Madrid and offers grounded advice. She worked with us to find a school for our daughter and we could not be happier with the outcome. We would absolutely work with her again - and recommend her without hesitation.
Monica Dumitrescu ★★★★★ a year ago
We had a wonderful experience working with Steps into Spain and Sinead!. She was always open, communicative, and genuinely caring throughout the process of finding a school for our daughter in Madrid. She answered all our questions, guided us with patience, and made us feel like we had a true partner rather than just a service provider. Thanks to her support, we found the school that best suits our daughter’s needs. We highly recommend her!
Carrie Davis ★★★★★ a year ago
We worked with Sinead to enroll our three children in school in Madrid. I first attended a webinar about the school system in Madrid and found it extremely informative. Later she pointed us in the direction of the neighborhood we now call home and helped enroll my kids. She’s very helpful and knowledgeable and her services are worth their weight in gold! Highly recommend
Priscilla Walker ★★★★★ a year ago
We moved to Spain in the summer, past the usual registration dates. We kept in contact with Sinead the whole time and she contacted schools in our desired neighborhoods to check on availability and updated us. Once we finally had the necessary paperwork on our end she confirmed space availability at our desired school then helped out with our application form. Her assistant, Kari, personally met us at the school to help communicate with the administration staff and she was also great at distracting our kids while we completed more paperwork. With the fast pace of our move it was a relief to have the guidance and extra helping hands from Sinead and Kari. We highly recommend their service to help navigate the Madrid school systems.
Ailyn La Torre La Torre Photography ★★★★★ a year ago
I would highly recommend Sinead with Steps into Spain to anyone who needs any help with anything related to school in Madrid or anyone transitioning their children into the Spanish School system. Sinead was informative, patient and so wonderful to work with! 5 stars! Thank you again for all your help Sinead!
Zeynep Santiroglu Sutherland ★★★★★ a year ago
If you are looking for the right school in Madrid, don’t waste time trying to do it on your own — just leave it to Sinead. She’s excellent!
Sinead helped us find the perfect school for our 15-year-old twin boys. We were looking for a boarding school that specialized in sports, particularly football, for our non-Spanish-speaking sons. She immediately understood our needs, communicated clearly throughout, and made the entire process so much easier.
Sinead is not only incredibly efficient and well-connected, but also genuinely caring and supportive. Her excellent reputation and wide network were a great source of reassurance during what could have been a stressful time.
We feel very lucky to have found her and can’t thank her enough. She’s simply the best!
Marta Forai ★★★★★ a year ago
Working with Sinéad was truly a gift — exactly the kind of support we needed during an important transition for our family. We were looking for someone who could recommend specific schools for our child, taking into account all the unique needs and priorities we had.
Despite doing extensive research on our own, everything started to blur — school websites and interviews all began to sound the same, and we still didn’t feel confident about how things would actually be in practice. What we needed was someone who really understands how schools in Madrid work — someone who knows the environment, the values, and even the kind of families each school tends to attract.
Sinéad provided exactly that. She took the time to understand our family, helped us clarify our goals, and brought focus to our decision-making. She knows the schools incredibly well, including some that weren’t even on our radar, and guided us through the pros and cons of each option in our desired area. Her insight comes not just from research but from knowing real families and their experiences — something that made all the difference.
Before starting with her, we also asked around at several schools — and interestingly, they themselves recommended her, noting how positive the experiences were with families she had supported. That gave us even more confidence.
She is highly organized, responsive, and genuinely cares. She answered all our questions — and in the end, her recommendation turned out to be the perfect fit for our child.
We’re very grateful to have had her guidance and would wholeheartedly recommend Steps into Spain to any family navigating this complex process.
Justin Lawless ★★★★★ a year ago
Sinéad was amazing and so helpful. We were overwhelmed with our move to Spain and didn't know where to start with enrolling our daughters in school. She clearly explained the system and process to us and helped us throughout the admission process, even accompanying us to the school. Her assistance was invaluable and we can't recommend her enough. Thank you!
Rosalind L. Herrington Moxon ★★★★★ a year ago
5-Star Review for Steps Into Spain ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
By word of mouth, we found Sinéad at Steps Into Spain, and I am beyond grateful that we did. Moving to a new country with children is already daunting, but after a terrible experience with a school upon arriving in Madrid, my family was ready to leave.
Sinéad completely turned things around. She didn’t just hand us a list of schools—she took the time to understand our family’s needs, providing carefully selected options that met my children’s unique requirements and my priorities as a parent. Her professionalism, expertise, and genuine care were unmatched. She reassured us that our experience didn’t have to define our time in Spain and guided us to the right choices.
Now, my children are thriving, happy, and excited to go to school every day—something I never thought possible after our rocky start. I cannot recommend Sinéad enough. If you're a parent moving to Spain and struggling with school options, don’t navigate it alone—Sinéad is the expert you need.
Atta Tarki ★★★★★ 2 years ago
We worked with Steps into Spain to find a local school for our 5 year-old daughter. We could not be happier that we worked with Sinead. She patiently guided us through the process of finding a school in Madrid and helped us land at a very well-regarded school, just 2 blocks away from where we live.
You could tell that she has a wealth of knowledge about the education system here and all the paperwork needed by new arrivals to register properly at the local schools.
I have already recommended her to a friend relocating to Madrid and would recommend her to anyone who wants to know they are going to be in good hands.

A clear picture of what our kids would need

Emily Gibson

Sinead is wonderful. She gave me a clear picture of what our kids would need and highlighted several ideas as well. I don’t think I would be near as prepared for our international move with our kids otherwise. Thank you Sinead! I’m sure we will be consulting with you more over the years.

*Bilingual school Madrid - Colegio Agustiniano - Steps into Spain

she assisted with all procedures at the school

Alisa Melkonian

Sinéad’s “Steps into Spain” was of tremendous help. Madrid is a fantastic big capital city with variety of schools for children. Only insider knowledge, and understanding experience of other children could help to choose the right one. Sinéad carefully listened to our requirements, spoke with my daughter and quite quickly provided us with the “short list” and arranged for visits. One school was a perfect match and she assisted with all procedures at the school (applications, etc), made sure my daughter was enrolled, etc. Highly recommended!

She found several alternative schools

Matthew Cross

I don’t think we could have done it without Sinead. From the first meeting, she was all business and ready to help. Responding to emails quickly and finding quick solutions. We were a homeschooling American family — which is difficult to explain in Spain! She found several alternative schools in our limit criteria who would accept our unconventional records. She even got us a last minute interview at the school we ended up choosing.

She also linked us up with a lawyer to navigate the visa process

Sara Brenneis

Sinead has been a through and through professional at every step of the process of navigating the school registration process for our kids, from our first contact from the US through the first weeks of school in Madrid. She also linked us up with a lawyer to navigate the visa process and made suggestions for a local football club for our kids. Thanks, Sinead!

"You can't go wrong with Steps into Spain"

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