Support through individual, joint and multi-age learning
Primary school

Image: SenBJF
The continuous improvement of the teaching and learning culture is a focus of Berlin’s primary schools. All-day school offerings create time to change educational offerings in terms of content and method and to support all students individually.
Welcome to school!
School enrolment in 2021
All Berlin primary schools are all-day schools
The flexible initial phase of school education
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The flexible initial phase of school education
PDF-Document (1.6 MB)
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Weekly schedule for primary schools
PDF-Document - As of: 2019
Mixed-age learning
According to the motto: “Show me how you do it!” the 1st and 2nd school years are age-mixed and the standard form at a Berlin primary school.
This means that most children will stay in the initial phase of school education for two years in order to learn the content according to the framework curriculum and to achieve the goals of the instruction.
More time to study
Any child who needs more time can also stay in the initial phase for a third school year. The third year does not count towards the general compulsory school attendance. The children thereby do not have any disadvantages and are not considered to be repeaters.
Faster learners
Children who may learn faster because of their special talents move up to the 3rd grade after just one year. The advantage of this flexibility works two ways: each child learns at their own pace and does not have to change their entire learning group.
Regardless of whether they study for two or three years during the initial phase of school education, your child will always stay with a few friends and trusted resource persons.
Learning to read and write
The basic vocabulary
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Basic vocabulary for grades 1 and 2
german
PDF-Document
Document: SenBJF -
Basic vocabulary for grades 3 and 4
german
PDF-Document (632.6 kB)
Document: SenBJF -
Basic vocabulary - handout for teachers
german
PDF-Document (2.1 MB)
Document: SenBJW
What is rhythmization?

Image: SenBJW
The open design of the day, the so-called rhythmization, has become established in many primary schools. Every school can structure its everyday school life according to its needs. This means that there are various ways to organise the daily routine in the all-day primary school:
- Sliding start
- Teaching blocks instead of 45-minute lessons
- Open final phases
- Active breaks
- Beginning and end of the week
Learning the first foreign language
Learning tasks
Self-assessment questionnaire in primary school
Performance assessment: the indicator-oriented certificate
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Certificate model for mathematics
PDF-Document (574.6 kB)
Supplementary support and after-school care

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With their all-day operation, the Berlin primary schools make an important contribution to the compatibility of family and work, because every primary school in Berlin is a reliable half-day primary school.
This means that the children usually have instruction from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and are at any rate supervised at school – even if instruction should end earlier. This offering is free for parents.
Open all-day primary school
If your child attends an open all-day primary school, where instruction takes place from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. – but beyond that you wish care for your child, e.g., in the afternoon or during the holidays, then you must apply for an after-school care voucher at your youth welfare office and contribute to the costs depending on your income situation.
- After-school care is free of charge for 1st and 2nd grade students. This provision applies as of 1 August 2019.
Bound all-day primary school
In the bound all-day elementary school there is an overall school concept of instruction, education and additional support and care (after-school care). This means that the educational offerings in the bound all-day primary school take place from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
You must apply to your youth welfare office for additional care modules before or after this time or holiday care and provide evidence that you need care. With the after-school care voucher you will also receive a notification of the cost sharing.
- Day care is free of charge for 1st and 2nd grade students. This provision applies as of 1 August 2019.