Pre-registration for new pupils at Barcelona's municipal nursery schools and public infant centres begins on Monday, 4 May. The city council, through the Municipal Institute of Education (IMEB), is offering 4,831 vacant places for the upcoming academic year.

The total capacity of the municipal nursery network will increase to 8,993 places. This expansion includes the new EBM Tramuntana school, currently under construction in the former Sant Andreu barracks, which will add 104 places across seven class groups. Additionally, the EBM La Mar in Barceloneta will expand its capacity from 63 to 100 places following ongoing renovation work.

These places are for children aged four months to three years. Of the 4,831 available places for new pupils, 538 have been reserved for children with special educational needs. This includes those with physical, intellectual, or sensory disabilities, autism spectrum disorders, severe behavioural issues, mental health conditions, or serious degenerative and rare diseases, as well as children facing severe social risk situations.

Expanding Early Childhood Education

Sara Belbeida, the Councillor for Education, said the city council is driving various construction projects and processing new initiatives to continue expanding the number of municipal nursery schools. She stated that early childhood education is a political priority and a key tool to ensure equal opportunities from the outset. Belbeida added that Barcelona is a leading city with one of the most extensive networks of public education centres for the 0-3 age group.

She emphasised the goal to make the network more accessible and geographically balanced, reaching all neighbourhoods and meeting family needs. Belbeida also highlighted that the focus is not just on increasing places, but on guaranteeing a quality service with strong educational projects and facilities designed for children's well-being.

Registration Details and Schedule

The pre-registration period runs from 4 May to 15 May. Applications must be submitted online via the Barcelona City Council's Virtual Procedures Office. In specific cases where families cannot complete the online application, they can contact their first-choice school by phone or email to arrange an in-person appointment between 4 May and 15 May.

The EBM Germanetes school in the Nova Esquerra de l'Eixample district will continue to offer diversified or reduced hours. This allows children to enrol for morning-only (9am to 1pm) or afternoon-only (3pm to 7pm) sessions, or for the full day (9am to 5pm), which includes morning reception services. The school offers five full-day class groups: one for infants born in 2026 (0-1 years) and four mixed-age groups for children born in 2024 and 2025 (1-3 years). Reduced-hour groups are available for children aged 1 to 3, born in 2024 and 2025. Families interested in reduced-hour places should contact the school directly.

Key Dates for Families

The pre-registration process follows a set calendar:

  • 4 to 15 May: Submission of pre-registration applications.
  • 21 May: Publication of provisional pre-registration lists and scores on the nursery school website.
  • 22 to 29 May: Period for submitting claims in person at the nursery school.
  • 1 June: Publication of definitive pre-registration lists and scores on the nursery school website.
  • 5 June, 11:30am: Tie-breaking draw at the Municipal Institute of Education of Barcelona (Plaça Espanya, 5).
  • 10 June: Publication of admitted children lists and, if applicable, waiting lists on the nursery school website.
  • 11 to 25 June: Enrolment period. Nursery school directors will contact families to arrange appointments.

This schedule applies to all 106 municipal nursery schools and the five infant centres managed by the Generalitat in Barcelona.