Is your child 6 years old or older? Then you must register your child for school. School education is free of charge. Here you can find out which steps are important for you and your child so that they can attend primary school. Support services for older students are briefly explained.
My Child Is Turning 6 and Will Soon Start School!
In Berlin, compulsory schooling begins if your child turns 6 years old by 30 September. The first day of school is after the summer holidays, at the end of August or the beginning of September.
The Kindergarten (daycare center) supports your child during the transition, for example through conversations, language support, school preparation activities, or a farewell celebration. It is recommended that your child attends Kindergarten (daycare) in the year before starting school.
You can find out how to prepare your child well for school in the multilingual brochure: Startklar für die Schule (Ready for School).
What Are the Most Important Steps for School Registration?
In Berlin, the school registration period always takes place 10 months before your child starts school: specifically during the two school weeks before the autumn holidays. There are several important steps before your child can start school (see Anmeldung für den Schulanfang (Starting School Registration).
- Visit the open day at primary schools.
- Take part in the school entry medical examination.
- Come together with your child to the school registration at the responsible primary school.
If needed, apply for:
- transfer to another school (Umschulungsantrag – school transfer application )
- delayed school enrollment by one year
- early school enrollment
- full-day care in eFöB (after-school care)
- assessment for special educational support needs
You can find more information in many languages about school registration in Berlin in the brochure: School Registration – Here’s How It Works!
The brochure New in Germany offers simple explanations and tips in many languages for newly arrived parents with school-age children.
Do you still have questions about the applications or are you unsure about your next steps? The FamilienServiceBüro (Family Service Office) in your district provides counseling in your language and helps you fill out applications.
Which School Will My Child Go To?
Every school has an area assigned to it (called an Einzugsbereich – school catchment area). Children who live there are guaranteed a place at the school in their residential area and must always register there first. Ask your neighbors or use the online search:
Please note: Not all schools are listed here. If you cannot find a school for your address, search online for "school catchment area + district name".
Can I Also Register My Child at a Different Primary School?
Yes, you can also choose a different primary school. For this, you must submit a justified Umschulungsantrag (school transfer application ). Whether your child can attend the other school depends on whether places are still available there.
One reason for a school transfer application may be the school’s special profile. One special feature is the bilingual Staatliche Europa-Schulen Berlin.
What Happens During the School Entry Medical Examination?
Before starting school, your child must take part in a medical examination with the Kinder- und Jugendgesundheitsdienst (KJGD) (Child and Youth Health Service). During this examination, the school doctor checks how your child hears, sees, speaks, moves, and develops mentally and physically.
The examination is not a test. It helps identify whether your child needs support – for example language support or additional assistance. Children who are not yet ready for school and have a Kita (daycare) place can start school one year later (see Delayed School Enrollment).
Here you can find more information about the process: School Entry Medical Examination | Berliner Familienportal
Important
Each district organizes appointments for the school medical examination differently. Some appointments are assigned automatically and you will receive notification by post. In other cases, you must book the appointment yourself. If you do not yet have an appointment, check whether you can book one for your district in the Service Portal:
What Does Delayed School Enrollment Mean and Why Is It Recommended for Some Children?
Delayed school enrollment means that a child starts school one year later. It can be helpful for children who, for example, are still learning German or need more time emotionally or socially. It may also help children who have difficulty concentrating or have health-related reasons adjust better to school. Delayed school enrollment is not a punishment and not a disadvantage.
Tip: Plan early! Talk about starting school or delayed school enrollment during a meeting at your Kita about one year in advance.
What Happens if My Child Does Not Speak Enough German When Starting School?
During the school entry medical examination, your child’s German language skills are assessed. After that, it is decided whether support is needed and in what form. In Berlin, this may include:
- language support in Kita (daycare)
- preparatory German courses before starting school
- Willkommensklassen (for children aged 8 and older)
- language support at school, for example through additional lessons, Willkommensklassen, or specially trained educators
Tip: Talk openly about language with your Kita (daycare) and school and ask counseling centers how you can best support your child. Multilingualism is a resource. Your child’s first language remains important.
Here you can find more information about the special registration process: Willkommensklassen | Berliner Familienportal
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More Information
The Berliner Familienportal (Berlin Family Portal) brings together official information, tips, and guidance for everyday family life. Find more information here about schools in Berlin.
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Guides
ElternMails (Parent Emails) are short guides tailored to your child’s stages of development. You receive practical tips on parenting, health, education, and much more in English, Turkish, Ukrainian, Arabic, and Polish.
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Financial Support
Do you receive Bürgergeld (citizen’s benefit), Sozialhilfe (social assistance), Kinderzuschlag (supplementary child allowance), Wohngeld (housing benefit), or AsylbLG (benefits for asylum seekers)? Find out here how much financial support for your children you can receive through the Bildungs- und Teilhabepaket (BuT) (Education and Participation Package):
Important: In Berlin, each district organizes school registration and school medical examinations differently. Ask official offices in your district about the current forms and procedures, for example the FamilienServiceBüro (Family Service Office). You should submit all documents together during the school registration period (2 weeks before the autumn holidays).
Here you can find some tips that may help you with the applications and the registration process.
Schule
Umschulungsantrag
Den Antrag auf Umschulung (Schulwechsel) brauchst du, wenn dein Kind nicht die Schule (Einzugsschule) besuchen soll, die für euren Wohnort vorgesehen ist, sondern eine andere Grundschule.
Das Formular „Schul 123" findest du hier:
Schreibe dazu eine kurze Begründung. Sie soll erklären, warum dein Kind diese andere Schule besuchen soll. Mögliche Gründe sind zum Beispiel:
- Die Schule hat ein besonderes Angebot, das dein Kind interessiert.
- Ein Geschwisterkind geht schon dort zur Schule.
Mehr Infos dazu findest du im Serviceportal.
Der Antrag ist ein zusätzliches Formular. Wenn nötig, gib es bei der Schulanmeldung ab (siehe Schulanmeldebogen).
Schulanmeldebogen
Das Formular für die Anmeldung von deinem Kind an der zuständigen Grundschule heißt Schulanmeldebogen.
Das Formular bekommst du entweder per Post oder im Sekretariat der zuständigen Grundschule (Einzugsschule). Die Anmeldung findet 2 Wochen vor den Herbstferien statt, ein Jahr vor dem Schulstart. Du kannst die Anmeldung direkt im Sekretariat ausfüllen.
Mitbringen:
- Formular von der Schuluntersuchung (Formularname "Schul 109")
- Personalpapiere von dir und vom Kind
- wenn nötig: Förderdokumente und Formular für den Umschulungsantrag (Formularname „Schul 123")
Mehr Infos: Serviceportal.
Jede Schule hat ihren eigenen Schulanmeldebogen. Hier siehst du ein Beispiel einer Grundschule in Neukölln.
Antrag auf Zurückstellung
Mit diesem Antrag kann dein Kind ein Jahr später in die Schule gehen.
Es gibt mehrere Schritte, um eine Zurückstellung zu beantragen.
- Bitte die Kita um die "Fachliche Stellungnahme der Kindertagesstätte zur Vorlage bei der Schulaufsicht".
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Melde dein Kind zur Schuluntersuchung an und fülle mit dem Arzt oder der Ärztin das "Form 109" aus.
- Gib das Formular bei der Schulanmeldung ab. Du bekommst die Entscheidung per Post.
- Verlängere den Kitagutschein beim Jugendamt.
Mehr Infos findest du hier: berlin.de
Der Antrag ist ein Formular. Es wird bei der Schuluntersuchung ausgefüllt.
Counseling
Click here to find the FamilienServiceBüro (Family Service Office) in your district:
Click here to find the SIBUZ (School Psychology and Inclusion Support and Counseling Center) in your district:
Locations in this map
ELBI-Eltern als Bildungspartner
Show on mapOffers for parents of Turkish origin, pupils and multipliers on school issues:
- General advice on pre-school education, school career planning, clarification in conflict situations, vocational orientation.
- Information events and seminars
- Homework help for pupils
- Remedial courses for pupils
- Mediation of private tutors
Oranienstr. 34
10999 Berlin
Germany
Counseling:
Tuesday 14:00-18:00 (in person)
Wednesday 10:00-12:00 (by telephone)
and by appointment
Homework help for students:
Monday to Friday 14:00-18:00 hrs.
Jugendmigrationsdienst - JMD
Show on mapThe Youth Migration Service (JMD) is a first point of contact for young migrants aged 12 to 27 who are new to Germany.
Counselling topics include:
- Orientation counselling
- Health and addiction counselling
- housing issues
- Counselling and group offers on school and career perspectives, enrolment in school and change of school
- Support in the search for a suitable school, internship, apprenticeship or study place
- Language and integration courses
- Preparation of application documents
- Clarification and securing of social benefit entitlements
- Family reunification
Willmanndamm 12 (Ecke)
10827 Berlin
Germany
[DeepL:] Consultation appointments on site by prior arrangement by phone or email, central telephone availability Tuesday 14-16 and Thursday 10-12.
Jugendmigrationsdienst (JMD) Steglitz-Zehlendorf
Show on mapThe Youth Migration Service (JMD) is a first point of contact for young migrants aged 12 to 27 who are new to Germany.
Counselling topics include:
- Orientation counselling
- Health and addiction counselling
- housing issues
- Counselling and group offers on school and career perspectives, enrolment in school and change of school
- Support in the search for a suitable school, internship, apprenticeship or study place
- Language and integration courses
- Preparation of application documents
- Clarification and securing of social benefit entitlements
- Family reunification
Schildhornstr. 72 (Hinterhof)
12163 Berlin
Germany
[DeepL:] Open office hours:
Tuesday from 09:00 - 12:00 and Thursday from 14:00 - 17:00
+ Consultation appointments can be made by phone and e-mail.
Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrischer Dienst (KJPD)
Show on mapWir bieten Unterstützung bei:
- Sorgen um die psychische Gesundheit
- Psychischen Belastungen und Krisen
- Der Frage, ob Kinder oder Jugendliche einen Integrationsstatus bekommen sollen (nach § 35a SGB VIII). Dieser Paragraph bezieht sich darauf, wie gut Kinder oder Jugendliche in der Kita oder Schule eingebunden sind und ob spezielle Hilfe oder Förderung notwendig ist
Urbanstr. 24
10967 Berlin
Deutschland
MINGRU JIPEN
Show on map[DeepL:] Mingru Jipen e.V. - "Our Life" was founded in 2009 on the initiative of a group of Polish Sinti, Roma living in Berlin and mediators who are friends of them in the children's and youth center ComX in Reinickendorf. It received its non-profit status in 2010.
The aim of the association is to support the emancipation and integration of Roma and Sinti newly arriving in Berlin as well as those already living here in various ways with the help of competent cultural and language mediators.
Ritterlandweg 58
13409 Berlin
Germany
Sprachmittlung an Schulen und Beratung zur Arbeitsmarktintegration
Show on mapThe project operates at the interface between school and newly immigrated family. The language and cultural mediators are bridge builders in the communication and cooperation between the school staff and the foreign speaking students and their parents.
Through expert and culturally sensitive interpreting, they help to overcome language barriers and to identify and eliminate culturally related communication difficulties. If necessary, they mediate when misunderstandings lead to conflicts and help to clarify and eliminate them.
The project also offers advice on labour market integration and support in the search for career prospects.
Harzer Str. 64A
12059 Berlin
Germany
Stadtteilmütter in Lichtenberg
Show on map[DeepL:] District mothers advise, accompany and support families with children up to the age of 12 and provide information about the wide range of services for parents and families in all of Berlin's districts, including in family centers and daycare centers.
Offers:
- Outreach low-threshold family counseling around child development, education and health (home visits).
- Accompaniment of families to educational institutions, specialized agencies, offices (always in connection with the 10 topics of the home visits)
- Accompaniment to / if necessary implementation of parent events in daycare centers, schools, social institutions
- Referral counseling to specialized agencies and support services
Topics of the home visits:
- Basic knowledge about the development and needs of children from 0-6.
- Education
- Play is learning
- Language development - multilingualism - language promotion
- Day care and school system
- Health promotion
- Accident prevention, traffic education, environmental protection and sustainability
- Prevention in education
- Media education
- Rights of the child
Otto-Marquardt-Str. 6-8
10369 Berlin
Germany
Stadtteilmütter in Mitte
Show on map[DeepL:] District mothers advise, accompany and support families with children up to the age of 12 and provide information about the wide range of services for parents and families in all of Berlin's districts, including in family centers and daycare centers.
Offers:
- Outreach low-threshold family counseling around child development, education and health (home visits).
- Accompaniment of families to educational institutions, specialized agencies, offices (always in connection with the 10 topics of the home visits)
- Accompaniment to / if necessary implementation of parent events in daycare centers, schools, social institutions
- Referral counseling to specialized agencies and support services
Topics of the home visits:
- Basic knowledge about the development and needs of children from 0-6.
- Education
- Play is learning
- Language development - multilingualism - language promotion
- Day care and school system
- Health promotion
- Accident prevention, traffic education, environmental protection and sustainability
- Prevention in education
- Media education
- Rights of the child
Rathenower Str. 17
10559 Berlin
Germany
Stadtteilmütter in Neukölln
Show on map[DeepL:] District mothers advise, accompany and support families with children up to the age of 12 and provide information about the wide range of services for parents and families in all of Berlin's districts, including in family centers and daycare centers.
Offers:
- Outreach low-threshold family counseling around child development, education and health (home visits).
- Accompaniment of families to educational institutions, specialized agencies, offices (always in connection with the 10 topics of the home visits)
- Accompaniment to / if necessary implementation of parent events in daycare centers, schools, social institutions
- Referral counseling to specialized agencies and support services
Topics of the home visits:
- Basic knowledge about the development and needs of children from 0-6.
- Education
- Play is learning
- Language development - multilingualism - language promotion
- Day care and school system
- Health promotion
- Accident prevention, traffic education, environmental protection and sustainability
- Prevention in education
- Media education
- Rights of the child
Silbersteinstraße 129
12051 Berlin
Germany
Stadtteilmütter in Spandau
Show on map[DeepL:] District mothers advise, accompany and support families with children up to the age of 12 and provide information about the wide range of services for parents and families in all of Berlin's districts, including in family centers and daycare centers.
Offers:
- Outreach low-threshold family counseling around child development, education and health (home visits).
- Accompaniment of families to educational institutions, specialized agencies, offices (always in connection with the 10 topics of the home visits)
- Accompaniment to / if necessary implementation of parent events in daycare centers, schools, social institutions
- Referral counseling to specialized agencies and support services
Topics of the home visits:
- Basic knowledge about the development and needs of children from 0-6.
- Education
- Play is learning
- Language development - multilingualism - language promotion
- Day care and school system
- Health promotion
- Accident prevention, traffic education, environmental protection and sustainability
- Prevention in education
- Media education
- Rights of the child
Voltastr. 2
13629 Berlin
Germany
Stadtteilmütter in Steglitz-Zehlendorf
Show on map[DeepL:] District mothers advise, accompany and support families with children up to the age of 12 and provide information about the wide range of services for parents and families in all of Berlin's districts, including in family centers and daycare centers.
Offers:
- Outreach low-threshold family counseling around child development, education and health (home visits).
- Accompaniment of families to educational institutions, specialized agencies, offices (always in connection with the 10 topics of the home visits)
- Accompaniment to / if necessary implementation of parent events in daycare centers, schools, social institutions
- Referral counseling to specialized agencies and support services
Topics of the home visits:
- Basic knowledge about the development and needs of children from 0-6.
- Education
- Play is learning
- Language development - multilingualism - language promotion
- Day care and school system
- Health promotion
- Accident prevention, traffic education, environmental protection and sustainability
- Prevention in education
- Media education
- Rights of the child
Beethovenstr. 34
12247 Berlin
Germany
Stadtteilmütter in Tempelhof-Schöneberg
Show on map[DeepL:] District mothers advise, accompany and support families with children up to the age of 12 and provide information about the wide range of services for parents and families in all of Berlin's districts, including in family centers and daycare centers.
Offers:
- Outreach low-threshold family counseling around child development, education and health (home visits).
- Accompaniment of families to educational institutions, specialized agencies, offices (always in connection with the 10 topics of the home visits)
- Accompaniment to / if necessary implementation of parent events in daycare centers, schools, social institutions
- Referral counseling to specialized agencies and support services
Topics of the home visits:
- Basic knowledge about the development and needs of children from 0-6.
- Education
- Play is learning
- Language development - multilingualism - language promotion
- Day care and school system
- Health promotion
- Accident prevention, traffic education, environmental protection and sustainability
- Prevention in education
- Media education
- Rights of the child
Götzstraße 24A
12099 Berlin
Germany
Here you can find some interesting videos produced about the school system in Berlin.
The Transition from Kita (Daycare) to School
Animated explainer video about the transition from daycare (Kita) to school.
Explainer Video on Starting School in Berlin | Neukölln
Dieses Erklärvideo zeigt Eltern, wie die Anmeldung für eine Schule in Neukölln funktioniert.
The Schultüte (School Cone)
Die Sendung "Karambolage" stellt einen deutschen Brauch vor, der den Schulanfang versüßen soll: die Schultüte.
