CDIAP in Barcelona: Early Help for Children Under 6

Your child is two and still not talking, or not walking the way other children are, or something about how they play worries you. The paediatrician says to give it time. Then another parent says "you need to ask for the CDIAP", and a friend mentions EDAI. Nobody explains what either is, whether it costs money or whether you can ask for it if you do not speak Spanish or Catalan. This guide explains what a CDIAP is, who can use it, how to ask, which centres the city lists in each district and what to do in the meantime. It is general information, not medical advice, and a doctor should assess any developmental concern.

What is a CDIAP, and what is EDAI?

A CDIAP (Centre de Desenvolupament Infantil i Atenció Precoç) is a child development and early care centre for children from birth to age 6. The Sant Joan de Déu CDIAP page describes it as an early care service for children with, or at risk of, neurodevelopmental disorders and for their families, and says the service is public, part of the Public Network of Child Development and Early Care Centres under the Generalitat's Department of Social Rights and Inclusion, and free of charge. The city's guide entry for one Barcelona centre describes interdisciplinary support covering prevention, detection, diagnosis and therapeutic intervention, from conception until the child turns six.

EDAI is not a type of service. It is the name of an association, Associació EDAI Persona i Entorn Social, that runs CDIAPs. Two centres in the city's list carry its name, EDAI Les Corts - Sarrià and EDAI Sant Martí, which is why parents search "EDAI" and "CDIAP" together.

Who can use a CDIAP, and how do I ask?

Children in the age range who live in the centre's catchment area, and you can be referred or apply directly. The Sant Joan de Déu page says families can come through a referral from an educational, social or health setting, or apply on their own, that children under three and those with severe conditions get priority, and that support continues until other general educational, health or social services can meet the child's needs. That page describes one centre, so confirm the process with the centre that covers your address. A good first step is your health centre: CatSalut says your primary care centre is set by your home address or by free choice, and public paediatric care covers children up to age 14, according to a December 2023 report by 3Cat. See our paediatrician guide for the public and private routes.

Where are the CDIAPs in Barcelona?

The city's open-data list of social services facilities, marked as updated in October 2023, shows ten CDIAPs. Phone numbers are as listed there, so call to confirm the address, your catchment and whether the centre is still open before you go:

• Eixample: Carrer del Comte Borrell 201 (la Nova Esquerra de l'Eixample), 932 157 423, and Passeig de Sant Joan 100 (la Dreta de l'Eixample), 932 072 312.
• Les Corts: CDIAP EDAI Les Corts - Sarrià, Carrer de Vilamur 15, 934 101 940.
• Sant Martí: Carrer dels Enamorats 109 (el Camp de l'Arpa del Clot), 934 872 277, and CDIAP EDAI Sant Martí, Carrer del Doctor Zamenhof 18 (Sant Martí de Provençals), 933 075 332.
• Sants-Montjuïc: Carrer dels Tres Pins 31 (el Poble-sec), 934 248 620.
• Ciutat Vella: EIPI Ciutat Vella, Carrer de la Reina Amàlia 33 (el Raval), 932 564 685.
• Nou Barris: EIPI Nou Barris, Carrer de Luz Casanova 11 (Verdun), 932 564 700.
• Horta-Guinardó: Carrer dels Castillejos 421 (el Baix Guinardó), 933 477 439.
• Sant Andreu: Carrer de Garcilaso 171 (el Congrés i els Indians), 933 520 014.

The list has no CDIAP located in Gràcia or in Sarrià-Sant Gervasi. The Les Corts - Sarrià centre is in Les Corts, and its name suggests it also covers Sarrià. Catchments are set by the Generalitat, not by the district boundaries, so a family in Gràcia may be served by a centre in a neighbouring district. Ask the nearest centre or your health centre which one covers your address.

What if I do not speak Spanish or Catalan?

None of the pages we read say whether CDIAP staff work in English, so do not assume it, and ask when you phone. Take a Spanish or Catalan speaker with you if you can, or arrange a professional interpreter for the first meeting, because the assessment and any treatment plan are things you need to follow fully. If you moved to Barcelona to work, start a business, invest or study, the council's free Welcome Desk helps eligible newcomers in English with the healthcare system, and our no-Spanish survival guide covers the padrón and health card that most public services need.

What can I do while I wait?

Waiting lists and priorities vary, and the sources do not give waiting times, so ask the centre how long it expects. Private help can run alongside the public route. Published 2026 price guides put a speech therapy session at about €50 to €55, an occupational therapy session at about €35 to €120 and a session with a psychologist at about €50 to €100. Our guides explain how to choose a speech therapist, an occupational therapist and a child psychologist, and the therapy price guide shows what moves each price.

What should I ask or bring when I call?

• Which CDIAP covers my address, and can I apply directly or do I need a referral?
• Is there anyone who can speak English, or can I bring an interpreter?
• What will the first appointment involve, and what should I bring: health records, the child's health card, the padrón certificate?
• How long is the wait for a first visit, and is my child's age a priority?
• Is there a cost for any part of the service?
• Write down what worries you, when you first noticed it and any words or skills your child has, in the language you are comfortable in.

Looking for an English-speaking speech therapist in Barcelona? Browse by area: All of Barcelona, or by area: Eixample, Poblenou, Sarrià-Sant Gervasi, Les Corts, Diagonal Mar & Vila Olímpica, Gràcia, El Born & Barri Gòtic and Sants.