Kindergarten
Every child from the first year of life until school age has a legal entitlement to a kindergarten place. But it is only the decision of the parents, whether the child should attend a daycare or not. There is no duty in Germany to send your child to the kindergarten.
School
It is mandatory for all children from the age of six to go to school. There are different deadlines to determine if a child has to start school.
State of Niedersachsen: All children who reach the age of six by the 30th of September are required to attend school. This includes children who have their 6th birthday on 1 October.
If the child is not ready for schooling at the age of six, it is also possible to delay the school entry. Children who turn six after the specified deadline for school enrollment can be admitted to school prematurely at the request of their parents. To clarify whether the child is ready for schooling (physical and intellectual development as well as its mental resilience and social competence) there will be the so called “Schulreifetest”.