Primary school: the first time

Most children go to school when they are 4 years old. But they are not yet subject to compulsory education (leerplicht). So you are not in breach of the law if you keep your 4 year old child at home. There is nothing the compulsory education officer (leerplichtambtenaar) can do about this. Compulsory education starts on the 1st day of the new month after the child turns 5. From that moment on, parents or carers are in breach of law if they keep their child at home.

Every school has a school support profile (SOP). The school's SOP states what extra support the school can offer children. You can find the SOP on the school's website. Here you will find all the schools in Amsterdam and Diemen in a handy overview. Choose a school on the map, or use the filters. If you click on school, you will see the website.

Yes, that is allowed. If a school can indicate that the classroom is full, the school has no duty of care (zorgplicht).

They have to indicate this in their school support profile (SOP). This can be found on the school's website. Here you will find all the schools in Amsterdam and Diemen in a handy overview. Choose a school on the map, or use the filters. If you click on a school, you will see the website.

Schools should not treat pupils with a need for extra support differently from other pupils. The school where your child is enrolled has a duty of care (zorgplicht), unless the school is full. This means that they will look, with you, at which form of education best suits your child. This may be a regular school (with extra support) or a type of special education. If necessary, the school can request a declaration of admissibility (toelaatbaarheidsverklaring, TLV) for special (primary) education from us.

Children preferably attend school from the age of 4. When a child is 5 years and one month old he or she has to go to school, education becomes compulsory. If your child (too) often fails to attend school or does not go to school at all, the compulsory education officer (leerplichtambtenaar) is called in. Together with you, he or she can look at the best way for your child to return to school, if necessary with extra support or assistance. The compulsory education officer can also talk to the school's support team if she is worried. If you would like more information about this, you can find it here. 

For some children, it is clear from an early age that enrolling in regular education is not feasible or desirable. If this is the case with your child, you can choose not to register according to the municipal admissions policy. You can register your son or daughter directly at a school for special (primary) education. That school then has duty of care (zorgplicht). This school will then apply for a declaration of admissibility (toelaatbaarheidsverklaring, TLV) from our samenwerkingsverband.

It is important that it becomes clear what the best place for your child to attend school is. Make sure that you share important information from (for example) the pre-school with the school where you register your child.

That depends on the policy of the pre-school or childcare centre where your child is. In exceptional cases this is possible. For example, if counselling has been provided for your child, if your child is not yet 'ready for school', or if your child is on a waiting list for special education. Usually, an extension is possible for a maximum of three months. Always consult with the pre-school or childcare centre about their possibilities.