Registering with a New Nursery & School
Nursery and school
Registering with a new nursery & school: proof, deadlines, responsibilities
Your roadmap
A move with children almost always means a new nursery (Kita) or school too. For nurseries, the following applies nationwide: from their first birthday until they start school, children are entitled to a place in a nursery or with a childminder (§ 24 SGB VIII). However, the place is allocated by the local authority at the new place of residence according to its own rules. In Berlin, for example, you apply for a childcare voucher (Kita-Gutschein) from the youth welfare office (Jugendamt) of the district in which you live – no earlier than nine and no later than two months before the desired start of care.
For nursery and school you also need proof of measles protection: vaccination record or medical certificate, to be presented before admission (§ 20 para. 9 IfSG). In Berlin, the school place is allocated by the district school office (Schulamt); for this you need the registration certificate for the new address. Because you can only register with the registration office (Bürgeramt) after moving in, ask early which proof is sufficient beforehand. How we take care of the move can be read under Private move.
Coordinate the moving date and the nursery start
Fixed price after a survey
Call us on 01625978461 and mention the start date at nursery or school straight away – then we will schedule the move so that there is enough time for registration and settling in. After a survey you receive a fixed price, whether in Berlin or as a long-distance move. You handle registering with the nursery and school yourself.
Quotes available individually based on workload, scheduling and the desired scope of services.
Who is responsible for what?
Four bodies, four tasks
Several bodies are involved when changing nursery and school. The Bürgeramt registers you at the new place of residence within two weeks of moving in and issues the registration certificate. The youth welfare office or nursery administration of the new local authority is responsible for nursery places, the school office for school places. Your current nursery and school need a notice of termination or deregistration and give you a report or certificates to take with you. Nurseries and schools fall under state law, which is why deadlines and procedures differ from one federal state to another. We are based in Berlin (Stromstraße 21) and take care of the move; other places can be found under Locations.
Registration office
Youth welfare office
School office
Previous institution
Have these documents ready
Exactly which documents the new nursery or school requires is set out by the local authority or the school office. These six documents are the ones most often needed when moving with children – put them in a separate folder that does not disappear into the lorry.
Registration certificate
Proof of measles protection
Birth certificate
Last school report
School certificate
Proof from employer
Send the children's room ahead?
If the new nursery or school starts before the actual move and one parent moves ahead with the children, a few pieces of furniture can go ahead as a shared load – often cheaper than your own lorry. You share loading space and the journey with other jobs, within an agreed time window.
Everything
for your move
Besides nursery and school, there are other tasks when moving with a family: re-registering your place of residence, changing your address with the health insurance fund and the family benefits office (Familienkasse), and finding a paediatrician and clubs. When each re-registration is due is explained in the article Re-registering After a Move. Tips for long routes with children can be found under Long-Distance Move with Children, and for the move itself under Private move.
Planning safe and relaxed
Furniture, boxes, transport routes
Costs, timing and special cases
Questions about nursery and school when moving
Changing nursery – how it works step by step
Changing nursery starts as soon as the moving date is fixed. Terminate the current childcare contract with the notice period stated in it – it varies depending on the provider. At the same time, find out from the local authority at the new place of residence how nursery places are allocated: via the youth welfare office, an online portal or directly through the institutions. The legal entitlement from the first birthday (§ 24 SGB VIII) applies everywhere, but does not guarantee your preferred nursery.
In Berlin you apply for the childcare voucher from the youth welfare office of the district in which you live – no earlier than nine and no later than two months before the desired start. Have the birth certificate, proof of measles protection and registration certificate ready. Use the time until the change to show your child the new nursery, for example at an introductory visit.
Changing school – deadlines and important documents
When changing school, procedures and deadlines differ from one federal state to another, because schools are a matter for the states. Inform the current school about the move early and ask for the last school report and a school certificate. For the new school you also need the registration certificate for the new address and proof of measles protection (§ 20 para. 9 IfSG). In Berlin, the district school office is responsible for school places.
When changing during the school year, a conversation with the new head teacher helps to clarify differences in the curriculum early – especially with a long-distance move to another federal state. For primary school children, an entitlement to all-day provision is being phased in from the 2026/27 school year (§ 24 para. 4 SGB VIII): ask the new school about after-school club or all-day places.
Moving costs by flat size
| 1 room | from €339 |
| 2 rooms | from €599 |
| 3 rooms | from €909 |
| 4 rooms | from €1,269 |
| House/villa | individual quote |
| Long-distance move | from €3.90/km |
Your exact price is determined after a free survey.
Understanding individual moving costs
Every move is different – so the price depends heavily on the volume and the distance (from €3.90/km). The floor, lift and a possible parking restriction zone also affect the calculation. We are also happy to advise you on furniture assembly and a shared load.
All-round service for your move
All-round service for your move
We offer a comprehensive service package that leaves no wish unfulfilled.
- Home move — We transport your belongings safely to the new home.
- Company move — For a smooth restart at the new location.
- Furniture transport — Competent transport of single pieces without a complete move.
- Part load — Save costs through shared transport capacity.
- Move with assembly — Spare yourself the effort; we take over the complete assembly.
- Clearance — Clearance with heart - fast, clean, reliable.
Family moves from Berlin – near and far
We are based in Berlin (Stromstraße 21) and handle family moves within Berlin and from here to other cities. Places with their own pages can be found in the locations overview, long routes under Long-distance moves.
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