In Germany school is compulsory. The deadline for enrolling at schools in the state of Baden-Württemberg is June 30 of every year. If your child has turned six years old by that date, school attendance is obligatory. Your designated elementary school will contact you.
If your child will turn six by June 30 of the next year, you may optionally submit a request to enroll your child at your designated elementary school (“can-child”) one year in advance. The school management will then decide on your request. You may also request to hold your child back one additional year before enrolling. For that, you need to enroll your child at your designated elementary school by the deadline and include a justified request.
Enrollment
Enrollment
Enrollment deadlines will be fixed anew each year (early February). Up to date information on the deadlines for the following school years and for enrolling your child at the designated elementary school will be published here.
You will need the following documents for enrolment:
Birth certificate (family register)
Results of the pre-school examination (Vorschuluntersuchung) by the district public health authority (Gesundheitsamt)
Proof of vaccination against measles
Statement concerning religious affiliation and proof thereof
Good to know: Elementary schools will host an information event in November for the parents of children who will be enrolled in the following school year. Your elementary school will invite you to their event.
School Enrollment Examination
School Enrollment Examination
For your child to be allowed to attend elementary school, your child is required to go through a school enrollment examination (Einschulungsuntersuchung). This examination is set to discover any possible health issues and delays in development, which might not be known so far. This will allow your child to receive the best possible support and treatment. You do not need to do anything further; the district public health authority for the Rhine-Neckar region, “Gesundheitsamt des Rhein-Neckar-Kreises”, will contact you automatically. The enrollment examination is free of charge. Further information can be found here.
School Districts
School Districts
Every public elementary school in Heidelberg is assigned a school district. Depending on where you live you will be assigned to an elementary school. You can find your designated elementary school here.
If you would like your child to attend a private elementary school, you still need to register at the public elementary school in your district by the enrollment dates in February and show the enrollment document of your private elementary school.
Way to School
Way to School
Heidelberg follows the guideline: Short legs, short ways. Heidelberg’s school districts allow your child to walk the short way to elementary school on foot. Please practice this path with your child ahead of time. There are maps for children giving recommendations for safe paths – not just to your elementary school but also to playgrounds and other places that children like: www.heidelberg.de/kinderbeauftragte.
Cost of School Attendance
Cost of School Attendance
Attending a public school in Germany is free of charge. While they attend school, children will receive teaching material, including schoolbooks, free of charge. Personal equipment like school bags, gym clothes for physical education at school etc. needs to be provided by you.
Optionally, you may choose a private school, which will usually charge a fee. More information can be found here.
Childcare for School Children
Childcare for School Children
Your child can attend an all-day school or attend an elementary school that offers childcare modules, which you can book according to your needs.
On behalf of the City of Heidelberg, the association “päd-aktiv” offers educational programs and childcare for your child at all public schools in Heidelberg. Afternoon childcare is available until 5 p.m. Children can have lunch at school and do their homework with supervision.
Päd-aktiv offers childcare during school holidays. Päd-aktiv also offers field trips for children and has offers for children starting school in the three weeks before the start of each new school year.
Fees for childcare offers depend on your income. Information on the different prices can be found on the homepage of päd-aktiv: www.paed-aktiv.de/angebote.
In addition to that, the City of Heidelberg offers a varied program during school holidays and some of the proposed activities are free of charge for your child. More information can be found here.
Parent Mentors
Parent Mentors
For families that just arrived here, understanding the German school system can be challenging.That is why we have intercultural parent mentors to mediate, and other parents can turn to them in case they need help with any questions concerning schools and education. Intercultural parent mentors build an important bridge between home and school.A large part of our parent mentors is multilingual and can also help with any language barriers and cultural differences that might exist.
If you would like assistance from a parent mentor, you may contact Julia Scheffel, Regionales Bildungsbüro (Regional education office). Phone 06221 58-32021, julia.scheffel@heidelberg.de.
Support Options
Support Options
Your child can take advantage of a number of municipal programs at public elementary schools that are free of charge for you.
Social work at school: Pedagogical social work offer to support children in developing their social and individual skills as well as realizing their potential at and integrating into school.
Municipal language classes: Additional supporting lessons to improve vocabulary, grammar as well as speaking, listening, reading and writing skills.
Heidelberg’s support system for schools: Supporting lessons in the core competence areas: German, math and social learning for children who are facing grade retention.
If your child needs more support due to a medical condition or disability, please don’t hesitate to confide into the advice centers for special pedagogy, sonderpädagogische Beratungsstellen, or the state’s school department, Staatliches Schulamt Mannheim.
Hector-Kinderakademie (Hector Children’s Academy): Upon suggestion by a teacher and after testing your child’s talents, you may – at your discretion – select different subject area courses designed to promote gifted children. www.hector-kinderakademie.de
