Reception classes in public schools (if your child has little or no knowledge of Danish)

In the reception class (modtagelsesklasse), your child will learn to understand and speak basic Danish 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 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 than in an ordinary class, so the teacher has more time for each pupil.

As reception classes are part of the municipal public school system, attending one is a cost-free option.

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, Pedagogy, Leisure & Education, which is part of the Department of Children and Young People in the City of Aarhus, 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 email dsa.puf@mbu.aarhus.dk, and you will be contacted to assess the need for a language screening.

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 six 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.

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, Pedagogy, Leisure & Education 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