Start with our international schools in Madrid directory for the full list of schools by curriculum and stage, then use this page to narrow to those that publish real learning support. A point worth stating plainly: in Madrid, almost every international school describes itself as inclusive, but the support behind that word ranges from a single coordinator to a staffed multidisciplinary team. The schools below were chosen because each publishes specific information about its provision, not because it claims to be inclusive. This is a shortlist to research, not a ranking, and the right school is the one that can support your child's particular needs, so confirm details directly.
The shortlist
International School of Madrid
International School of Madrid publishes a learning support and special educational needs department that includes a school psychologist, a school counsellor and a speech therapist, alongside external specialists such as an occupational therapist. That mix of in-house and referral support is a meaningful signal that the school plans for needs rather than improvising, and it is a sensible first call for families who want a named team behind the inclusion promise. Confirm what the team is staffed to support for your child's specific profile.
Maxwell School
Maxwell School is a smaller international school built specifically around inclusive provision, with small class sizes and a low pupil-to-teacher ratio so that each child can receive close attention. That structure suits families who want more individualised support than a large mainstream school can offer, particularly where a child benefits from a calmer, smaller setting. Ask the school directly about the range of needs it supports and how it tailors the timetable.
American School of Madrid
American School of Madrid publishes a special needs profile that sets out, candidly, the kinds of support it can offer and the limits of what it can provide. That transparency is valuable: a school that documents what it cannot do is giving families the information they need to avoid a placement that will not work. For families on the American curriculum pathway, it is a sensible school to approach with a full picture of the child's needs and to read that profile against your reports.
How we chose and what to ask
We included only Madrid schools that publish concrete information about their learning support, whether that is a named department, a documented special needs profile, or a school structured around inclusive provision. We did not rank them, score them or attach ratings, because the right school depends entirely on the match between its team and your child's needs. When you contact a school, ask who staffs the learning support team, whether a psychologist, counsellor, speech therapist or occupational therapist is on site or available by referral, how individual support plans are written and reviewed, whether support is delivered in class or in withdrawal sessions, and whether the school has supported a similar profile before. Ask for the answers in writing so you can compare schools on the same basis, and disclose your child's needs early so the school can be honest about fit.
Match a school to your child's needs
Tell us your child's stage, curriculum and support needs and the school finder returns a matched Madrid shortlist to approach.
Start the school finderFees and next steps
In most Madrid international schools, learning support is delivered within the mainstream tuition, though some schools add a charge for one-to-one help or specialist therapy. Rather than quote figures that move each year, we keep the live bands in one place: see our guide to international school fees in Madrid for current tuition by school and curriculum, and confirm both the tuition and any learning support surcharge with the school before you apply.
To build a shortlist around your child, use the school finder, browse the full Madrid schools directory, or compare the related shortlists for sixth form and the most affordable international schools in Madrid.
Common questions
International School of Madrid publishes a learning support and special educational needs department that includes a school psychologist, counsellor and speech therapist alongside external specialists, and the American School of Madrid publishes a special needs profile describing the support it can and cannot offer. Maxwell School is a smaller school built specifically around inclusive provision. Always confirm with the school that it can meet your child's specific profile.
No. Many Madrid schools describe themselves as inclusive, but the depth of support varies a great deal, and finding a school able to support more demanding needs is harder than the marketing suggests. The practical step is to ask each school exactly what its learning support team is staffed to do, rather than to rely on a general inclusion statement.
Ask who staffs the learning support team, whether they have a psychologist, counsellor, speech therapist or occupational therapist on site or by referral, how individual support plans are written and reviewed, whether in-class support or withdrawal sessions are available, and whether they have supported a profile similar to your child's before. Ask for this in writing so you can compare schools fairly.
SEN provision is delivered within mainstream international school fees in most cases, sometimes with an additional charge for one-to-one or specialist therapy support. Rather than quote figures that change each year, we keep current tuition bands in our international school fees in Madrid guide, and you should confirm both the tuition and any learning support surcharge with each school.
Yes. Sharing reports and a full picture of your child's needs early lets a school tell you honestly whether it can support them, which protects the child from a placement that will not work. A school that has the right learning support in place will want this information to plan properly, so early disclosure is in everyone's interest.