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 before moving on to an ordinary class in a public school.

In the reception class, 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 a regular class. Therefore, the teacher has more time for each individual pupil.

Being part of the public school system in Denmark, attending a reception class is free of charge 

 
 

FOR HOW LONG SHOULD MY CHILD ATTEND A RECEPTION CLASS?

It is not possible to determine how long your child must attend a reception class before he or she is transferred to a regular class. This will differ from child to child. How long your child must attend a reception 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.

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 form the basis for a determination as to whether your child needs to start in a reception class or can start in a regular class in a public school.

Please contact Competence Centre for Danish as a Second Language (in Danish: Kompetencecenter for dansk som andetsprog).

AT WHICH LEVEL WILL MY CHILD START?

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 that children aged 6 start at step 0 in a reception class.

Birth year

Reception class

Grade in an ordinary Danish public school 
2016 Step 0 Grade 0
2015 Step A Grade 1
2014 Step A Grade 2
2013 Step A Grade 3
2012 Step B Grade 4
2011 Step B Grade 5
2010 Step B Grade 6
2009 Step C Grade 7
2008 Step C or C+ Grade 8
2007 Step C or C+ Grade 9
2006 Step D Grade 10
     
     

WHERE ARE THE RECEPTION CLASSES LOCATED IN 2022/2023?

The reception classes are located at various public schools in Aarhus Municipality.

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. 

Ellevangskolen     Step A Step B Step C  
         
Lisbjergskolen    Step A Step B Step C Step C+
         
Læssøesgades Skole    Step 0 Step A  Step B  
         
Rosenvangskolen    Step 0 Step A  Step B Step C
         
Sødalskolen    Step 0 Step A    
         
Tranbjergskolen    Step C Step C+ Step D  
         
         

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 he or she attended reception class. It is up to the school where your child attends a regular class to plan further language support if needed. 

TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM SCHOOL

If your child is enrolled in a school outside your local area transportation of your child to and from school will be provided free of charge.

  • Pupils in grades 0-4 usually ride in a taxi.
  • Pupils in grades 5-10 are usually provided with a bus pass so they can use public transportation

Competence Centre for Danish as a Second Language will inform you of whether your child is entitled to transportation to and from school. 

SIBLINGS

If you have more than one child needing to start in a reception class, Competence Centre for Danish as a Second Language will attempt to place your children at the same school.

However, the possibility of your children attending the same school will depend on the age of your children and availability at the school in question (current number of children).

ENROLMENT PROCESS FOR INTERNATIONALS ARRIVING FROM ABROAD

When you have moved to Aarhus you will need to complete an enrolment form and send it to Competence Centre for Danish as a Second Language: kompetencecenter@mbu.aarhus.dk

Your child can start school in a reception class without having been issued with a CPR number. 

If your child hasn't been issued with a CPR number yet and your child is taking up residence in Denmark on the basis of EU regulations or if your child is a citizen from outside the EU/EEA you must submit the following documentation:

  • If your child is taking up residence in Denmark on the basis of 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:
    • A copy of your child's application for a residence permit, or
    • A residence permit 

This documentation must be sent to Competence Centre for Danish as a Second Language along with the enrolment form.

You will be contacted by 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 (eboks) from 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 afterschool 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 (skolefritidsordning, SFO) - childcare before and after school

Sign up your child for SFO (in Danish)

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.