Education questions should be part of choosing the city and neighbourhood rather than left until you have fully settled in. Check the procedure with the authorities where you will live.

Describe your child's situation

Write down their age, previous schooling, languages and expected arrival date. List the documents you have and any special organisational needs. Share medical and other sensitive information only when the recipient has a justified request for it.

Ask about the next step

Find out who handles the first enquiry, how available places are checked and what you need to provide. Ask separately about after-school care, meals and support with settling in. Do not assume one city's procedure applies to the whole of Germany.

How to prepare a first meaningful enquiry

Briefly describe your child's age, previous schooling, the languages they use, the expected arrival date and your future address if it is already confirmed. State what you need: to understand the procedure, a list of documents or the next possible steps. Do not send the family's complete documents to all institutions at once. Find out who is responsible for your place of residence and how enquiries are accepted. If the address is still provisional, say so clearly: an answer based on it may not apply if you later choose another neighbourhood.

How to fit schooling into the family schedule

Ask separately about the start and end of the day, supervision, meals, the journey and how the first weeks are organised. Even a suitable place may not solve the question of the hours when the adults are working. Write down who picks the child up and who can step in. Do not confuse confirmation that your letter was received with confirmation that a place is available. For each important answer, keep the source, the date and the next step. If an institution asks for sensitive information, find out the purpose, the amount needed and the intended way of sending it, rather than including it in ordinary open correspondence.

What to check

  • Find the official contact for your future address.
  • Check the list of documents and how to submit them.
  • Compare the school day with your working hours.
  • Keep the answers and the date of your next follow-up.

Example situation

An available place may not solve the question of care after lessons. Check when the day ends before you settle the family schedule.

Next step

A well-prepared enquiry helps you get a concrete next step instead of general back-and-forth.

Official information on this topic

Checklists and examples are organisational recommendations. Requirements depend on the procedure, the city and your situation; check them with the relevant office before you act. Please discuss legal and tax questions with an authorised professional.

This article was prepared with the help of AI. The example illustrates the approach and does not describe a client case.