From Kita to Grundschule

If your child was born between 1 October 2020 and 30 September 2021, they start school in August 2027. School registration takes place from 5 to 16 October 2026.

In Berlin, the move to school starts about 15 months before the first school day. Each step has a deadline, and some missed steps are hard to make up for. The dates in this guide apply to children starting school in August 2027.

Timeline

1. May–June 2026: The Kita assesses your child's German. Families of children who don't go to Kita receive an invitation from the Schulamt.
2. September 2026: Go to the open days of the schools you're interested in.
3. 5–16 October 2026: Registration at your local primary school. If you want a different school, you apply here too. You can hand in the Hort application on the same day.
4. After registration: You receive an invitation from the Gesundheitsamt for the pre-school health check.
5. Spring 2027: Confirmation of the school place and Hort.
6. Around 21 August 2027: School start ceremony (Einschulung). Lessons begin on 23 August.

School starting age

In Berlin, children who turn 6 by 30 September start school in August of that year.

Starting early: If your child doesn't need German language support, you can apply for an early start. At registration you need to bring the language assessment from the Kita (QuaSta form). The district's school supervisory authority (Schulaufsicht) decides.

Postponing the school start (Zurückstellung): If you think your child isn't ready for school, you can apply to postpone it by one year.

• You apply in writing to your local primary school or at the pre-school health check. The deadline varies by district, usually the end of February.
• You need a written assessment of your child's development from the Kita.
• The school supervisory authority decides. A postponement is only possible once, and your child must keep going to Kita that year.

If you're unsure, talk to the Kita educators and to the doctor at the pre-school health check. Your child's German not being good enough yet is not a reason for postponement on its own. In that case, the school provides extra language support.

School registration

Your address decides which school you register at. In Berlin, every address belongs to the catchment area (Einschulungsbereich) of one primary school. This is usually the school closest to your home. You can find out which school it is from the street list of your district's school office (Schulamt). Before the registration period, the school sends you an invitation by post. If it doesn't arrive, call the school.

Registration: 5–16 October 2026

• You need to go to the school in person. Bringing your child is recommended.
• The registration form is filled in and signed at the school. Registration is free.
• What to bring: Your ID or passport, a current proof of registration (Meldebescheinigung), your child's birth certificate and any documents about support or therapy for your child's development. If you have sole custody, also bring proof of sole custody.

If you want a different school:

• You still need to register at your local school first. This step is compulsory even if you're considering a private school.
• On the same day, you hand in a reasoned application for your preferred school at your local school. You can fill in the form online in advance.
• Your preferred school can accept you if it has places left after taking the children from its own catchment area. Strong reasons include a sibling at that school or a special programme at the school (for example a German-Turkish Europa-Schule).
• If your application is rejected, you can object to the decision (Widerspruch). The deadline is stated in the decision letter.

Health check and language level

The pre-school health check (Einschulungsuntersuchung) is compulsory. After registration, the child health service of the Gesundheitsamt (KJGD) sends you an appointment by post. The check is free and takes about an hour.

• What's checked: Sight and hearing, height and weight, vaccinations, movement and fine motor skills, speech, understanding of numbers and quantities, and communicating with a stranger.
• What to bring: Vaccination card, the yellow child health booklet (U-Heft), glasses or hearing aids if any, doctor's reports and the language assessment from the Kita.
• Result: The check doesn't decide whether your child is accepted at school. The doctor writes a recommendation for the school and, if needed, talks with you about how your child can be supported at home, at Kita or at school.
• If you're considering postponement, say so at the check and bring the Kita's written assessment.

If your child's German isn't strong yet, explain at the check that your child is growing up bilingual and what they can do in Turkish. If your own German isn't good enough, you can bring someone you trust to interpret. Ask the Gesundheitsamt before the appointment whether an interpreting service is available.

Language level. For children who go to Kita, German is assessed at the Kita about 15 months before school. If support is needed, the child receives targeted language support in the last Kita year. For children who don't go to Kita, the test and support are compulsory. For details, see the guide "Raising a bilingual child in Berlin".

After-school care: Hort (eFöB)

Berlin primary schools offer after-school care called Hort. It also covers the school holidays. After Kita, this is what working families need most.

• Grades 1–3: Care between 07:30 and 16:00 is free and no proof is needed. For longer hours you need to apply separately.
• Lunch: Free at school in grades 1–6.
• Application: You hand in the form at the school during registration. The school forwards it to the district Jugendamt. You need to apply at least 3 months before the start. Processing can take 6–10 weeks.
• What you need: Signatures of both parents with custody. If you have sole custody, proof of sole custody.
• Once approved, you sign a care contract with the organisation running the Hort (usually an association that works with the school).

Kita contract. The Kita contract ends automatically when your child starts school. Ask both the Kita and the Hort whether there will be a gap between the last Kita days and the first school day. Some Horts offer care from the start of August.

For care during the holidays, see the guide "Being a working mother during school holidays".

Getting ready for school and the first day

The school start ceremony (Einschulung) usually takes place on the Saturday before lessons begin. In 2027 this is around 21 August. After a short programme at the school, the children go to their classrooms for the first time. Many families then have a small celebration with relatives and friends.

Schultüte: In Germany, children carry a large cone filled with small gifts, stationery and sweets on their first school day. This tradition matters a lot to children. Many cones are made together at the Kita or at home, and they can also be bought ready-made.

Shopping list:

• School bag (Schulranzen): A light bag that fits the back well and has reflectors. The busiest sales period is spring. Second-hand is also a good option.
• Stationery: The school usually sends a list before the summer holidays. Don't buy too much before the list arrives.
• Support: If you receive Bürgergeld, Wohngeld or Kinderzuschlag, you can get €195 a year for school supplies through BuT.

What you can do at home in the last Kita year:

• Walk the way to school together and practise the traffic rules.
• Practise everyday skills like tying shoelaces, going to the toilet alone and packing up their things.
• Don't try to teach reading or writing. The school does that. Reading books together and talking, in any language, is the best preparation.

Practical tips from mothers

• Visit the school. Go to open days before registration. Seeing the Hort rooms, the playground and the lunch tells you much more than the school website.
• Ask about Kita friends. Having a friend from the same Kita at the same school makes the first weeks much easier. Talk to other families about which school they're registering at.
• Take time off for the first days. School and Hort hours can be short in the first weeks. We recommend taking time off for the first school week.
• Be ready for parent communication. School messages usually come in German, through an app or by email. Staying in touch with the class parent representative (Elternvertreter) and other parents helps a lot.
• Don't forget to say goodbye to the Kita. In the last Kita days there is a farewell ceremony for the children. It helps your child close this chapter emotionally.

This section will grow with the experiences of women in the BACIM community. If something has worked for you, you're welcome to share it.

Sources

• Primary school registration (service.berlin.de)
• School registration 2027/28 (Bezirksamt Mitte)
• Pre-school health check (Gesundheitsamt Steglitz-Zehlendorf)
• Parent letter on postponing the school start (Ginkobaum-Schule, 2024, PDF)
• Pre-school language level and language support (Berlin Senate Department)
• Applying for eFöB (service.berlin.de)
• Support for single parents 2026, incl. BuT school supply amounts (Federal Family Ministry, PDF)

This guide is not a substitute for legal advice. Information checked as of October 2026. The dates apply to children starting school in August 2027 and need to be updated every year.