Published 02 September 2026 | Community

TL;DR: The monthly price of aula matinal in Almeria public schools has risen by €6.40, but families can apply for free places or discounts until 7 September.

Aula matinal applications close 7 September

Families using supplementary services in Almeria’s public schools will face higher costs this academic year, although grants and discounts may reduce or remove the charge for eligible households.

The application window for free provision or financial support for aula matinal, school meals and other services opened on 1 September and closes on 7 September. Families that miss the deadline will lose the right to receive support during the 2026-27 school year and will have to pay the full published price, even if they meet the financial conditions.

Applications can be submitted online through the Secretaría Virtual of the educational centres.

Aula matinal increase

The biggest change affects the morning childcare service, known as aula matinal. The daily rate is now €1.82, while the monthly charge has been set at €23.91.

That represents an increase of €6.40 per month compared with the previous fee of €17.51. The service is used by families who need to leave children at school before the standard school day because of work and other scheduling commitments.

In Almeria province, 164 educational centres will offer aula matinal during the 2026-27 academic year. School dining facilities will be available at 201 centres.

Meal and activity fees

The cost of school meals has changed little. In public schools, the charge remains €5.54 per user per day.

After-school activities also remain at €17.51 per activity, the same rate as last year.

There are also revised charges for the first cycle of Early Childhood Education. The morning service will cost €23.91 per month, and the afternoon service will carry the same monthly fee. This is an increase of €3.01 per month for those services.

The Consejeria de Desarrollo Educativo y Formacion Profesional says the revision reflects the development of operating costs and follows a consistent approach across the different educational services. The updated tariffs were published in the Boletin Oficial de la Junta de Andalucia.

Who can receive support

The grants are available to parents, guardians and legal representatives of pupils enrolled in public schools in Andalucia. The eligible stages listed by the administration are the second cycle of Infant Education, Primary Education, Special Education, compulsory secondary education and Basic Vocational Training.

Some pupils continue to qualify for full coverage because of particularly vulnerable circumstances. This includes children at risk of social exclusion, children under the care of the Junta, children of women who have experienced gender-based violence, victims of terrorism and pupils who must arrive before lessons because they use compulsory school transport.

Other families may receive a discount ranging from 10% to 90%. The level of support depends on household income. The Junta calculates the percentage by comparing the family’s income with the IPREM, and applicants must authorise the administration to check tax information for all household members over the age of 16.

Important application dates

The general deadline for requesting free provision or a discount is 7 September. This applies to the services used by pupils in the public education system covered by the scheme, including aula matinal and school meals.

There is a separate additional application period for aid linked to first-cycle infant schools. That window runs from 1 September to 31 October 2026.

The new school year begins on Thursday 10 September. Supplementary services are expected to be available from the first day, unless individual centres issue specific instructions.

For families who regularly depend on early-morning care or school meals, the main practical point is to complete the online application before the relevant deadline. The standard tariff is not necessarily the amount every household will pay, but support cannot be applied during the year if the request is not submitted on time.

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