Reception classes in public schools (if your child has little or no knowledge of Danish)
Do you wish for your child to be enrolled in a Danish public school (Folkeskolen) in Aarhus? And does your child have little or no knowledge of the Danish language? Then your child must attend a reception class (modtagelsesklasse) before moving on to an ordinary class in a public school.
In the reception class (modtagelsesklasse), your child will learn to understand and speak basic Danish in order to attend an ordinary class in a public school.
However, your child is not only taught Danish but will follow the curriculum corresponding to your child’s grade level. The duration of a school day in a reception class corresponds to the duration of a school day in an ordinary public Danish school according to grade.
Your child can attend a reception class from the age of 6 to the age of 17, and enrolment can happen at any time during the academic year.
There are fewer children in a reception class compared to an ordinary class. Therefore, the teacher has more time for each pupil.
Since the reception classes are part of the municipal public school system attending a reception class is free of charge.
For how long should my child attend a reception class?
Determining how long your child must attend a reception class is not possible. This will differ from child to child. How long your child must attend a reception class before moving to an ordinary class depends on your child’s age and your child's acquired Danish language skills.
However, your child will attend a reception class for a maximum of two years.
Transport allowance
In connection with your child's school placement, the Competence Centre for Danish as a Second Language will assess, per the applicable service rules for transport in Aarhus Municipality, whether or not your child can be granted transport to and from school.
What if my child already speaks and understands some Danish?
If your child speaks and understands some Danish when you move to Aarhus, your child will need a language screening.
The language screening will determine whether your child needs to start in a reception class or can begin in an ordinary class in a public school.
Please get in touch with the Competence Centre for Danish as a Second Language (Kompetencecenter for Dansk som Andetsprog).
At which grade will my child be enrolled?
Reception classes are divided into steps. Your child's birth year determines which step your child is enrolled at.
Children in Denmark start school at age 6 in grade 0. This means children aged 6 start at step 0 in a reception class.
Where are the reception classes located in 2023/2024?
The reception classes are located at various public schools in Aarhus. The age of your child, prior schooling, where you live, and classroom availability are all factors that determine where your child will start in a reception class.
There are reception classes at the schools listed below. You may see the steps available at each school.
(Risskov) |
A | B | C | |||
(Lisbjerg) |
0 | A | B | C | C+ | (D) |
(Aarhus centre) |
0 | A | B | C | ||
(Viby J) |
0 | A | B | |||
(Brabrand) |
0 | A | ||||
(Tranbjerg) |
B | C | C+ | D | ||
(Trige) |
C | C+ | (D) | |||
(Aarhus C) |
0 | A | B | C | ||
(Risskov) |
A | B | C |
What happens when my child is ready to attend a regular class?
As soon as your child has acquired sufficient Danish language skills, you will be invited to a handover meeting at the district school (your local school). Your child is always entitled to stay at the school where they attended reception class. If needed, it is up to the school where your child attends a regular class to plan further language support.
Siblings
If you have more than one child who needs to start in a reception class, the Competence Centre for Danish as a Second Language will attempt to place them at the same school.
However, the possibility of your children attending the same school will depend on their age and the school's availability (current number of children).
Enrolment process for children arriving from abroad
When you move to Aarhus, you must apply for reception class enrollment. The Competence Centre for Danish as a Second Language will receive your application.
Your child can start school in a reception class before being issued a CPR number (a unique identification number used in Denmark for various administrative purposes). This is possible because the school understands that obtaining a CPR number can take some time.
If your child hasn't been issued a CPR number yet, you must submit the following according to how your child is taking up legal residence:
- If your child is taking up residence in Denmark based on EU regulations:
- Documentation that you have applied for an EU residence document for your child
- If your child is a citizen from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland:
- A copy of your child's application for a residence permit or
- A residence permit
This documentation must be sent to the Competence Centre for Danish as a Second Language. You can mail the documents to the Centre's address or submit them at their office. The contact information for the Centre and the online application form are in the upper right corner of this page.
You will be contacted by the Competence Centre for Danish as a Second Language if they have any questions related to the enrolment form.
You will receive a letter in your digital postbox from the Competence Centre for Danish as a Second Language which will outline where your child will start school.
If you are not signed up for digital post yet, you will receive a letter by regular post.
You will automatically receive digital post from public authorities when you have been issued a CPR number.
The school will invite you and your child to visit the school for an enrolment interview within two weeks from the date of enrolment.
The school will need relevant information from you about your child and its prior schooling.
The enrolment interview will provide you with practical information related to starting school, including:
- What does it mean to attend a reception class?
- What is taught in the reception class?
- What will the class schedule look like?
- What will my child need to bring?
- Agreements about starting school and information about the rules
- Transportation
Information about before- and after-school care
You can also get more information about signing up for after-school care, called SFO (grades 0-3), and club (grades 4-9). These are before- and after-school opportunities for school-aged children. You will need to pay the cost of SFO and club yourself.
School-based leisure time facility (SFO)
Free-time clubs, youth clubs and youth school
Once you have been to the enrolment interview at the school, your child is ready to start school. You will arrange with the school the date on which your child will start as a pupil in the class in question.
The teacher will continuously monitor how your child develops his/ her Danish language skills in order to determine when your child is ready to start in an ordinary class.
The teacher will keep you updated in relation to your child's learning, well-being, and development. If you have questions, you can always contact the teacher.
Want to sign your child up for a reception class in Aarhus?
Please complete the application form. Department for Children and Youth will contact you after receiving it. Their contact information is mentioned below.
Department for Children and Young People, PUF (Pedagogy, Education and Leisure)
Pedagogy and Prevention, Children and Young People, City of Aarhus
Grøndalsvej 2
8260 Viby J
Phone:
8713 6151
E-mail: kompetencecenter@mbu.aarhus.dk