School game

Identifying School Readiness Through Play

The School Entry Assessment is a key component of the school entry assessment process in North Rhine-Westphalia. It usually takes place as part of the school registration process and gives Grundschulen the opportunity to get to know future first-graders in a playful way and assess their development.

Objective

The school play has several objectives:

  • Assessment of school readiness: It’s not about performance, but about observation. What skills does a child already have? Where does the child need support?

  • Individual support: Early signs of developmental needs allow for targeted support—even before children start school.

  • Coordination with the daycare center: Observations from the school assessment supplement the evaluations provided by the child care centers and are incorporated into the school readiness profile.

Procedure and Organization

The school game usually lasts about an hour and takes place in small groups (4–6 children). The children move through several stations with playful activities. These are often woven into a child-friendly story (e.g., an imaginary journey through an enchanted forest).

Typical positions and responsibilities:

  • Motor skills: Balancing, hopping, cutting, painting

  • Language: Clapping syllables, telling picture stories, recognizing rhymes

  • Perception: Recognizing colors and shapes, copying patterns

  • Mathematics: Counting, determining quantities, ordering numbers

  • Social behavior: Teamwork, concentration, independence

  • Cognitive abilities: Logical thinking, memory, ability to understand tasks

The activities are designed to spark children's curiosity while also highlighting important skills.

Observation and evaluation

Teachers and educational staff observe the children using structured criteria. The observations are incorporated into a School Readiness Profile that covers the following areas of expertise:

  • Motor skills (gross and fine motor skills)

  • Perception (visual, auditory)

  • Social and interpersonal skills

  • Dealing with tasks (e.g., perseverance, concentration)

  • Basic skills (e.g., numeracy, language skills)

The profile serves as a basis for discussions with parents or guardians and, if necessary, for coordination with the daycare center or the public health department.

The school screening is part of the school’s responsibilities regarding school enrollment. It is based on recommendations from the Ministry of Schools and Education of North Rhine-Westphalia and is closely linked to the educational agreement between the state and the associations representing daycare providers.
The school medical examination supplements the school screening by assessing medical aspects such as vision and hearing, speech development, and general health.

What happens next?

  • Unremarkable observations: A brief response will be provided.

  • Findings: This is followed by counseling sessions and, if necessary, recommendations for support measures.

  • Transparency: You may review the observations and ask questions at any time.

Why is the school play important?The School Game facilitates a smooth transition from preschool to school. It helps us better understand children, build trust, and tailor the start of school to each child’s individual needs—with the goal of providing the best possible support for every child.