4 steps to primary school

Step 1 - Choosing

You can choose from over 50 schools in Zoetermeer. Where does your child feel at home, and what kind of education is suitable? It's a good idea to start exploring different schools from your child's second year. Check out the map where you can find them by neighborhood and type of education. That can help you make a choice.

The schools' websites contain more information about their education and what they offer. Make an appointment at a few schools to get a feel for the atmosphere and get acquainted. Many schools also organize information sessions.

Compile a top 3. This is important because it can happen that your child is not placed in the school of first preference. It is possible that a school receives more applications than it has places available. You can read more about this in step 3.

School selector

There are over 50 primary schools in Zoetermeer. Vrijeschool de Vuurvogel and Islamic primary school IKC de vijf pilaren are currently not participating in the procedure. Check the map to see which schools are nearby. Would you prefer to see all the schools in an overview? Click here

Good to know: where you live does not affect placement. Priority is not given based on postal code.

Step 2 - Registration

Have you made a choice? Then fill in the registration form and list three schools. You can find the registration form here to fill in digitally. The form also provides space to indicate any additional support needs. You can read more about this in the ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.

Four fixed registration periods

There are four fixed registration periods. You register your child in the period in which they turn 3 years old. If you do it later, there is a chance that there will be no place at the school of your preference.

For the chance of a place, it does not matter whether you fill in and send the registration form on the first or last day of the registration period. All registration forms are treated as if they were completed and received at the same time during that period.

Overview of periods

Your child turns 3 years old between:

Register between:

October 1 and December 31

December 12 and December 31

January 1 and March 31

March 12 and March 31

April 1 and June 30

September 12 and September 30 *

July 1 and September 30

September 12 and September 30

* Due to the summer holidays, this registration period has been adjusted.

For detailed information about registering your child, see the ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.

Registration form
Step 3 - Placement

All registrations are processed in a central registration system and processed after the closing date.

Your child is guaranteed a place if the school has enough places for all applications. Each school allows a maximum number of children per year. If there are more applications than places , the school applies the priority rules.

Priority rules

This means that children get priority if:

  1. they have a brother or sister, half-brother or half-sister, or stepbrother or stepsister at the same school;

  2. they attend a form of childcare in the same building for at least 4 months, 2 sessions (8 hours) per week before they are 3 years old. Examples include daycare, playgroup, or language playhouse.

First, priority rule 1 is applied, and when there are still places left, priority rule 2 is applied.
The priority rules do not guarantee that your child will actually be placed.

Drawing lots

After the priority rules have been applied, a school drawing of lots follows if there are more applications than the school has places. That drawing takes place in the first week after the closing of the registration period. If your child is not selected, it is immediately checked whether there is a place at the second (and if necessary) third school you have specified.

In May and November, there are extra drawing rounds at the schools where places have become available. This offers a chance for a better placement. For more explanation, see the ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.

Step 4 - To school

After placement, you will receive a letter and a registration form from the school where your child has been placed. After you have returned the registration form, your child is officially registered.

From the age of four, your child can attend school!