Zápis do školy (school enrollment) is the official registration of a child for primary school (základná škola), which takes place on specific dates. Mandatory school attendance (povinná školská dochádzka) is in effect in Slovakia, so enrolling first-graders is a required step for parents.
What you should know
- Enrollment for the first grade usually happens in spring (typically in April) for the next school year.
- Enrollment for kindergarten (materská škola) is done separately, most often later in spring.
- Bring your child's birth certificate, proof of residence, and your passport.
Specific dates and the list of documents are set by each school and its founder (the town or district), so you need to check them at your specific school. A foreign child must be accepted; if needed, the school offers language support for integration. If the child's Slovak is weak, the school may suggest preparatory classes or a class with language support. You usually need to attend the enrollment in person with your child, so plan for free time.