If your child is due to start school (1st year / grade) then they will be expected to attend an school enrolment checkup (Einschulungsuntersuchung). In this post, I will explain what the 'Einschulungsuntersuchung' is, how you get your appointment and what you can expect at the appointment.
What is the purpose of the Einschulungsuntersuchung?
The 'Einschulungsuntersuchung' is a test, much like the U Screening tests, that is specifically designed to examine whether your child is ready for school. Through a relaxed setting, a doctor will check the development of your child to see if they are school ready (Schulreif) and to look for any signs of developmental delays that may need to be helped first. All children who are due to start 1st year / grade the following year are obligated to attend a Einschulungsuntersuchung. For those parents with children and are unsure whether their child is ready to start school yet for whatever reason, these school enrolment check-ups can be a good way to help you make your decision.
I will explain exactly what to expect during the test further down in this post.
How do I get a Einschulungsuntersuchung appointment?
Like with many things here in Berlin, there are differing ways this works. The appointment should theoretically take place within 24 - 15 months before your child is due to start school. The Gesundheitsamt will be notified of all children who are due to automatically start 1st year / grade of Grundschule (elementary / primary school) and those children are obligated to attend this check up.
Once you have registered your child in their local school (or have turned down this school for another of your choice), you should receive notification of either where to set up your Einschulungsuntersuchung or receive an automatic appointment from either your local school or your child's Kita.
What should I do if I didn't receive an Einschulungsuntersuchung appointment?
If your child is due to begin 1st year / grade this or next year and you have not yet received an Einschulungsuntersuchung appointment, I recommend you ask your Kita or local school if they have the details for you and failing that, you can call the central number (030 90239-3043) to find out which Kinder- ind Jugendgesundheitsdienst is responsible for your area and speak to them.
What should I bring to the Einschulungsuntersuchung?
When attending the school enrolment check-up you must bring the following items:
Where applicable you will also be expected to bring the following:
What can you expect to happen at the Einschulungsuntersuchung?
You can expect the following to be checked during your child's Einschulungsuntersuchung:
Where anomalies are noted during the speech test, the doctor will then perform a language assessment (Sprachstandsdiagnostik) called SETK 3-5.
What happens after the Einschulungsuntersuchung?
Following the school enrolment check-up you should receive an evaluation of the tests (Auswertung der durchgeführten Tests) and the test results (Untersuchungsergebnisse)
In cases where the doctor decides that your child may need a little extra help to prepare him/her for their school start, you will be recommended to see specialists in certain fields or given advice about things you can do at home to help your child. It is quite common for bilingual children to be recommended for speech therapy (Logopädie) before starting school for example.
What happens if my child doesn't pass the Einschulungsuntersuchung?
Should the doctor decide that your child is not yet ready for school they will be expected to attend Kita for another year to help further their development and readiness for school, possibly with extra help from specialists. If you are unsure about the decision or disagree with the decision, you should speak to your Kita about what the next step would be.
The 'Einschulungsuntersuchung' is a test, much like the U Screening tests, that is specifically designed to examine whether your child is ready for school. Through a relaxed setting, a doctor will check the development of your child to see if they are school ready (Schulreif) and to look for any signs of developmental delays that may need to be helped first. All children who are due to start 1st year / grade the following year are obligated to attend a Einschulungsuntersuchung. For those parents with children and are unsure whether their child is ready to start school yet for whatever reason, these school enrolment check-ups can be a good way to help you make your decision.
I will explain exactly what to expect during the test further down in this post.
How do I get a Einschulungsuntersuchung appointment?
Like with many things here in Berlin, there are differing ways this works. The appointment should theoretically take place within 24 - 15 months before your child is due to start school. The Gesundheitsamt will be notified of all children who are due to automatically start 1st year / grade of Grundschule (elementary / primary school) and those children are obligated to attend this check up.
Once you have registered your child in their local school (or have turned down this school for another of your choice), you should receive notification of either where to set up your Einschulungsuntersuchung or receive an automatic appointment from either your local school or your child's Kita.
What should I do if I didn't receive an Einschulungsuntersuchung appointment?
If your child is due to begin 1st year / grade this or next year and you have not yet received an Einschulungsuntersuchung appointment, I recommend you ask your Kita or local school if they have the details for you and failing that, you can call the central number (030 90239-3043) to find out which Kinder- ind Jugendgesundheitsdienst is responsible for your area and speak to them.
What should I bring to the Einschulungsuntersuchung?
When attending the school enrolment check-up you must bring the following items:
- Your child's yellow medical book (das Gelbe Vorsorgeheft)
- Your child's immunisation pass (Impfausweis)
- The 'Elternfragebogen' completed (you will receive this 'Parents Questionaire' when receiving the details of your appointment)
Where applicable you will also be expected to bring the following:
- For those whose child will be attending the appointment without their parent, the adult accompanying the child must bring a signed Declaration of Consent letter (Einverständniserklärung) confirming that person is allowed to attend with your child.
- Should your child have developmental delays (speech or physical) that have your Kita, yourself or your child's paediatrician concerned that they aren't ready for school, any written form of evidence for this should be brought to the appointment such as an 'ärztliche Befunde' or 'Entwicklungsberichte'.
- Your child's glasses or hearing aid.
What can you expect to happen at the Einschulungsuntersuchung?
You can expect the following to be checked during your child's Einschulungsuntersuchung:
- Analysis of your child's immunisation book (Impfbuch)
- Analysis of your child's yellow medial book (U-Heft)
- Your child will be weighed and measured
- Sight test
- Hearing test
- Test of bodily motor functions (such as hopping on one leg)
- Hand-finger-motor skills test
- Body awareness
- Speech capabilities (repeating of sentences for example)
- Level of independence (ability to dress him/herself for example and ability to work with others)
- Emotional development
- General behaviour and social competence
Where anomalies are noted during the speech test, the doctor will then perform a language assessment (Sprachstandsdiagnostik) called SETK 3-5.
What happens after the Einschulungsuntersuchung?
Following the school enrolment check-up you should receive an evaluation of the tests (Auswertung der durchgeführten Tests) and the test results (Untersuchungsergebnisse)
In cases where the doctor decides that your child may need a little extra help to prepare him/her for their school start, you will be recommended to see specialists in certain fields or given advice about things you can do at home to help your child. It is quite common for bilingual children to be recommended for speech therapy (Logopädie) before starting school for example.
What happens if my child doesn't pass the Einschulungsuntersuchung?
Should the doctor decide that your child is not yet ready for school they will be expected to attend Kita for another year to help further their development and readiness for school, possibly with extra help from specialists. If you are unsure about the decision or disagree with the decision, you should speak to your Kita about what the next step would be.
I hope this post has been helpful for you, if there is any information relating to the Einschulungsuntersuchung that you think is missing of you would like more information about another school-related subject, please do let me know in the comments section and I will do my best to find out the answers.
Useful Related Posts
Berlin's English / German Bilingual Schools, read here
Choosing the Right Bag for Grundschule, read here
Berlin's English / German Bilingual Schools, read here
Choosing the Right Bag for Grundschule, read here
