Registration for Grundschulen
Who is required to attend school?
In North Rhine-Westphalia, children who turn six by September 30 are required to attend school from August 1 of the same year. Children with birthdays from October 1 follow one year later.
When must the application be submitted?
Registration must be completed by November 15 of the previous year at the latest. A corresponding letter will be sent out by the school administration office in good time.
How does the registration process work?
Registration takes place directly at the Grundschule of your choice.
The dates are set by the school authorities - information is available from the school or via the local press.
The child should be brought along to registration so that they can get to know the school.
Is the child then automatically admitted?
No. The final admission decision is made by the school management after the application process has been completed. If there are more applications than places, a selection procedure applies (§ 1 AO-GS).
What happens if I don't speak German?
If there are any doubts about language skills, a standardized language assessment procedure is carried out.
Can I apply for earlier school enrollment?
Yes, an informal application for early enrollment can be submitted for children born after September 30. The school management decides after consultation with the parents/guardians. A school doctor's or school psychologist's report may be consulted. There is no lower age limit.
What applies to deferrals?
Children can be deferred from school for one year for health reasons. The decision is made by the school management on the basis of a medical report from the school doctor - other specialist medical opinions may be taken into account.
When does school start?
School enrollment takes place on the second school day after the summer vacations at the latest. The exact date can be obtained from the respective school.
See also: School enrollment