Bundesportal | Enrollment of a child in elementary school

More Information

Publisher

Lower Saxony

Contact

The government service telephone number 115 – your point of contact for questions related to the federal, state and local.

Monday through Friday from 8:00 to 18:00 (and beyond these times in some regions).

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In Lower Saxony, elementary school comprises school years 1 to 4. In elementary school with an entry level, children in years 1 and 2 are taught in inter-year learning groups, which they attend for one to three years.

School attendance is compulsory for your child. In Lower Saxony, children generally start school when they have reached the age of six by September 30th of a given year. This also includes children who have their 6th birthday on October 1.

Children born after October 1 (so-called "optional children") can also be enrolled; there is no special deadline for this. The head teacher decides on admission.

About 15 months before your child starts school, you will be asked to register

to the elementary school responsible for your child. The school authority - i.e. the town or municipality - or the elementary school will inform you of the exact registration date well in advance. Your place of residence determines which school(s) is/are responsible for you. You can obtain information on this from the school authority or an elementary school in your area.

In Lower Saxony, all children are examined by a doctor before they start school as part of the school entrance examination to check their development and state of health. This will identify your child's strengths and weaknesses relevant to school, advise you and, if necessary, recommend support measures for your child. Participation in the school entrance examination is compulsory for your child. You will receive an invitation.

Your school-age child can be deferred for one year if it is to be expected that he or she will not be able to successfully complete the first year of primary school or a special school.school or a special school. The child may be required to attend a school kindergarten if this facility is available in the area of the school authority. The decision to enrol or defer your child is made by the school management after consultation with you as a parent or guardian. In elementary school with an entry level, there should be no deferral.

If your child has its sixth birthday in the period from July 2 to October 1, you can postpone school attendance by one year by submitting a written declaration. This does not have to be justified (Flexibilization of the school enrolment date).

Registration form from the relevant elementary school. You can pick up the form at the school beforehand or you can get it directly when you come to register. Sometimes you can also download the form from the school's homepage.
Vaccination certificate or medical certificate (measles protection)
Birth certificate of the child

after consultation with the school:

If applicable, passport photo of the child for the school file
Certificate of registration, if applicable
Certificate of custody, if applicable

Power of attorney from one parent or guardian for the other, if applicable

Forms can be obtained from the responsible elementary school or the school authority
Online procedure: no
Written form requirement: no
Personal appearance required: yes

Abmeldung meines Kindes von der Schule

Anmeldung meines Kindes an der Schule

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Preconditions

The place of residence is in Lower Saxony

Hints

Inclusion/ need for special educational support: In Lower Saxony, all schools are inclusive schools. They provide equal and barrier-free access for all pupils. Parents of pupils with special educational needs can decide whether their child should attend an elementary school or a special school. As the primary sector of special schools with a focus on learning has been phased out, all pupils with a need for special educational support with a focus on learning go to elementary school. In addition to the elementary school, the Regional State Offices for Schools and Education (RLSB) and the Regional Advice and Support Centers for Inclusive Schools (RZI) are the points of contact.

Language support: Since the 2018/2019 school year, the language development of all children who attend a daycare center has been observed, documented and supported in an integrated manner by social education specialists. At the latest at the beginning of the kindergarten year immediately preceding compulsory schooling, the child's language skills must be assessed, a development discussion must be held with the parents/guardians and, if necessary, individual and differentiated language support must be initiated. For children who do not attend a daycare center, the responsible elementary school determines the language skills as part of school enrollment and sets up language support measures for children who do not have sufficient German skills in the school year before school enrollment. This language support is legally enshrined in the Lower Saxony School Act and participation is compulsory for the children concerned (early compulsory schooling).

Responsible elementary school: If parents wish to attend a different elementary school for important reasons, an application for exemption must be submitted to the responsible elementary school. Irrespective of this, the child is first registered at the elementary school responsible for the school catchment area.

Brochure: The school system in Lower Saxony

General information "The elementary school in Lower Saxony"

There are no fees.

Basis for legal action

Lower Saxony Act on Day Care Facilities for Children (NKiTaG)

Lower Saxony Act on the Public Health Service (NGöGD) Section 5 (2)

Work in the elementary school

§ Section 56 Investigations of the Lower Saxony School Act (NSchG)

§ Section 64 Start of compulsory schooling Lower Saxony School Act (NSchG)

§ Section 71 Obligations of legal guardians and instructors Lower Saxony School Act (NSchG)

Legal Remedies

This administrative service does not constitute an administrative act. For this reason, there is no legal remedy.

Procedure

You must register your child in person at the elementary school responsible for you around 15 months before the start of school. You will often receive an invitation for this. Ask the school in advance what other forms you will need in addition to the birth certificate and immunization record.

In addition, your child's school entrance examination will be carried out by the child and youth medical service of the public health department will take place. You will receive an invitation for this.

Deadlines

The registration date is announced by the school authority in the usual local manner, usually between December 1 and 8. Experience has shown that this will be in May/June of the year before the child is due to start school.
The informal declaration to postpone school attendance by one year must be submitted to the school by May 1 before the start of the school year in question.

Processing time

No processing time

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