In Lower Saxony, elementary school comprises grades 1 to 4. In elementary school with an entry level, children in grades 1 and 2 are taught in inter-year learning groups, which they attend for one to three years.

School attendance is compulsory for your child. In Lower Saxony, children generally start school when they have reached the age of six by September 30 of a given year. This also includes children who have their 6th birthday on October 1.

Children born after October 1 (so-called "optional children") can also be enrolled; there is no special deadline for this. The head teacher decides on admission.

About 15 months before your child starts school, you will be asked to register

to the elementary school responsible for your child. The school authority - i.e. the town or municipality - or the elementary school will inform you of the exact enrolment date well in advance. Your place of residence will determine which school(s) is/are responsible for you. You can obtain information on this from the school authority or an elementary school in your area.

In Lower Saxony, all children are examined by a doctor before they start school as part of the school entrance examination to check their development and state of health. During this examination, the child's strengths and weaknesses relevant to school are determined, you are advised and, if necessary, support measures are recommended for your child. Participation in the school entrance examination is compulsory for your child. You will receive an invitation.

Your school-age child can be deferred for one year if it is to be expected that he or she will not be able to successfully participate in the first year of primary school or a special school due to his or her level of development. The child may be required to attend a school kindergarten if this facility is available in the area of the school authority. The decision to enrol or defer your child is made by the school management after consultation with you as a parent or guardian. In elementary school with an entry level, there should be no deferral.

If your child has its sixth birthday in the period from July 2 to October 1, you can postpone school attendance by one year by submitting a written declaration. This does not have to be justified (flexibilization of the school enrolment date).

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School entrance examination: online registration possible in Salzgitter

The health department of the city of Salzgitter announces:
Custodians of children who will be required to attend school in the coming year 2026 will be able to conveniently book appointments for the school entrance examination themselves online from mid-October. 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 daily routine 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.