Enrolling a Child in Primary School in Germany
Introduction
In Germany, most children start compulsory education at the age of six. Each federal state sets the start of compulsory schooling based on a specific reference date (cut-off date). If a child turns six before a certain date within the school year, they start school in that same year. If the child turns six after that date, they will start school in the following year.
Illustrative example:
Example 1: If your child’s birthday is on 1 October 2021 and you live in the state of Thuringia, your child will start school in 2021, because they have already turned six by 30 September 2021. However, a child who turns six on 2 October 2021 will start school in 2022.
Example 2: If your child’s birthday is on 25 September 2021 and you live in the state of Saxony, and the cut-off date for compulsory schooling there is 30 June, then your child will start school in 2022. But if you would like your child to start school already in 2021, you must register them at an appropriate school.
How to register at the school
When the start of the school year approaches, you as a parent and your child will be invited to the primary school responsible for your residential area. In this invitation, you will receive detailed information about the registration dates and the registration process.
Steps required for registration
Visiting the school:
You and your child must visit the primary school during the specified registration period. At this visit, you will meet the school administration or other responsible staff.
Registration form:
You will need to fill in a registration form, which usually requires information such as:
The child’s name
Date of birth
Required documents such as the birth certificate, identity documents, and the results of any school entrance examination, if applicable.
Required examinations:
After visiting the school, various examinations of your child’s physical, motor and cognitive abilities must be carried out. These may include activities such as drawing and solving simple puzzles. In addition, a language assessment is performed by an Office for Child and Youth Welfare that is affiliated with the Ministry of Education. The school receives the results of these examinations and uses them to assess your child’s readiness to start school.
If you wish to postpone compulsory schooling:
If you want to postpone your child’s school entry for one year, you will need:
A statement from the day-care centre (kindergarten) confirming that your child is being supported there.
An opinion from the school doctor or the psychological service assessing your child’s readiness for school.
Concerns related to registration
Parents often worry about whether their children will be able to adapt to school life. The results of the school entrance examination can help in assessing this. If there is a need for special support, parents can make use of services such as occupational therapy or speech therapy to strengthen their child’s skills.
Conclusion
Enrolling a child in primary school is an important step that requires some planning. Make sure you keep track of the deadlines and prepare all necessary documents and examinations in good time, so that your child’s start at school goes as smoothly as possible.
* The team of authors and editors on this website strives to provide accurate information based on thorough research and consultation of multiple sources when writing articles. However, errors may still occur or some information may not be fully confirmed. Therefore, please regard the information provided in the articles as an initial point of reference and always contact the relevant authorities for definitive and officially verified information.
