School enrollment is the admission of a child to a school, especially an elementary school.

At the beginning of a school year, children who have reached the age of six or will reach this age by the following September 30th are required to attend school, including children who have their 6th birthday on October 1st. For children who turn six between July 1 and September 30, parents or legal guardians can postpone school attendance by one year by submitting a written declaration to the school; the declaration must be submitted to the school by May 1 before the start of the school year.

At the request of the legal guardians, younger children may be admitted to the school if they have the required physical and mental ability to attend school and are sufficiently developed in their social behavior. Children of compulsory school age who are not yet sufficiently developed physically, mentally or in their social behavior may be deferred by one year; they may be required to attend a school kindergarten to promote their development. The decision on early admission and deferral from school attendance is made by the respective school management.

________________________

School entrance examination: online registration possible in Salzgitter

From mid-October, guardians of children who will be required to attend school in 2026 will be able to conveniently book appointments for the school entrance examination themselves online. With the introduction of a central, individually designed registration portal, the city of Salzgitter is simplifying the process and ensuring greater flexibility in scheduling appointments.

Access data for the registration portal will be sent to parents by post

Previously, families received the examination appointments by post and had to coordinate changes by telephone with the child and youth health department of the health authority.

With the new system, the process is now much more modern: in the invitation letter sent out by the specialist service for the school enrolment examination, families are contacted according to their children's date of birth. This letter contains a personal booking code that custodians can use in the online portal to select their preferred date within a specified period. Changes or cancelations can also be made independently. It is also possible to upload personal documents.

The aim is to make it easier for families to organize their school enrolment. The digital appointment system allows families to plan their everyday lives better.
The school entry examination is required by law and checks the child's vision, hearing, speech development, motor skills and general health as part of a medical examination. The results provide important information as to whether a child needs support when starting school.

No internet access? Appointments can still be made by telephone

For families without internet access, appointments can still be made by telephone.

Children with increased support needs - health department contacts parents in person

Families with children who are known to the public health department and who have an increased need for support will be contacted by the public health department as usual to arrange an appointment.