Frequently asked questions

Westland has nearly 50 primary schools, ranging from public to denominational education, each with its own approach and atmosphere. See the complete overview under "All schools at a glance" or search by location via "School map Westland".

The procedure applies to most primary schools in Westland. Schools with their own registration procedure, such as schools for special (primary) education, are not covered. For those schools, contact the school directly.

Look at the educational offer, the location, the atmosphere and any extra activities. Visit open days, read the school guide and talk to other parents. Our tip: make a list of preferences, because if your first-choice school is full you can still be placed at your second or third preference.

You register your child in the year it turns 3. There are four fixed registration periods, three years after the quarter of birth: born 1 October to 31 December, register 15 to 31 December; born 1 January to 31 March, register 15 to 31 March; born 1 April to 30 June, register 15 to 30 June; born 1 July to 30 September, register 15 to 30 September. The table is also on the page When to register.

No. It makes no difference to the chance of placement whether you register on the first or the last day of the registration period. Do make sure you are on time: after the end date of the period you can no longer register.

You register your child in the period in which it turns 3. Are you late because of a move or another reason? Then you can register in the next period, provided your child falls within the registration year. Is your child already 4 or older? Then contact the school of your choice directly.

Registering takes five steps: 1) around 2.5 years you receive a letter from the municipality (you do not need it to be able to register, it is an informative letter), 2) you set your email reminder, 3) on the first day of your registration period you receive a personal registration link by email, 4) you enter several preferred schools in the Onderwijs Transparant parent portal, 5) you confirm the registration.

Popular schools often have more registrations than places. If your first choice is full, we look at your second and third preference. The more schools you enter, the greater the chance that your child gets a place at a school that matches your preference.

Email the school of your first preference. They can delete the registration so that you can register again. This is only possible during an ongoing registration period.

No. The letter you receive around 2.5 years is informative. The registration process itself runs entirely via this website and the email reminder.

You register your children separately. State for each registration that the child is part of a multiple birth. The school links them to each other within the procedure so that they do not end up at different schools.

Is your child younger than 4? Then you can register in the next registration period that fits the date of birth. Is your child already 4 or older? Then contact the school of your choice directly.

Yes, that is possible. Email the coordinator at contact@schoolstartwestland.nl . The coordinator will help you with the options within the procedure.

Indicate this when you register. The school of your first preference will then invite you for a conversation to see whether it can offer the right support. The school gets four extra weeks of assessment time for this. Can the school not offer the support? Then it will help you find a suitable school.

Yes, that is possible in the same way as for a parent with a child in Westland.

If you are moving to another city and will no longer use the place at the primary school where your child is enrolled, let the school know in good time. They can then offer this place to another child during the placement improvement round.

The email reminder makes sure you automatically receive an email as soon as your registration period begins. That email contains the personal registration link to the Onderwijs Transparant parent portal. Without the reminder you have to keep track of when your period starts and look up the registration link yourself. Set it once, and the rest follows automatically.

No. You only enter your email address and your child's (or children's) date(s) of birth. We send you a confirmation email to check that the email address is yours, and after that it is arranged.

Yes. Click "Add another child" and enter the date of birth for each child. You will then receive a separate reminder for each child at the right moment. Ideal for families with several children under 4.

No problem. Just enter the same email address again on the email reminder page. We will then automatically send you a new access link.

Yes. We send the email with the registration link on the first day of your personal registration period. You do not need to keep a diary or set reminders on your phone. If you still have not received anything a few days after the start, check your "Junk" or "Spam" folder.

The date of birth of each child is deleted 3 months after that child's own registration period. Your email address is deleted 3 months after the registration period of your youngest child. You can also delete your data earlier via the "Unsubscribe" button on the access page. The data is only used for sending the reminders.

First check your "Junk" or "Spam" folder. Nothing found? Enter your email address again on the email reminder page . We will then immediately send you a fresh access link and the registration link. Still not arriving? Then email contact@schoolstartwestland.nl .

The registration link is sent from the official SchoolStart Westland system via noreply@schoolstartwestland.nl and points to the central registration system. If in doubt: first go to the Registration page on this website and log in there, then you can safely click through.

The email reminder is only a signal plus a personal link. You make the actual registration afterwards in the central registration system, where you enter your three preferred schools. Your child is only registered once you have submitted that form.

Is your child not yet 4? Then you can still register in the next period, provided the date of birth falls within the registration year. Is your child 4 or older? Then contact the school of your choice directly.

You will receive a message within one week after the registration period closes. Does your child need extra support? Then the school can take four extra weeks for the assessment.

If there are more registrations than places, the school applies these rules: 1) A brother or sister already at the school (applies at all schools). 2) Childcare in the same building as the school (does not apply at all schools, check per school). For rule 2: the child must have attended the childcare for at least four months, two half days per week (8 hours), before the third birthday.

A brother or sister means children who live together as a family. This can be a blended family at one address or a separated family at two addresses. Foster and adopted children are included.

No. Where you live has no influence on placement. No priority is given on the basis of postcode or distance to the school.

No. The priority rules only apply to the school you stated as your first preference.

That depends on the number of available places, the number of registrations and the priority rules applied at that school.

First the priority rules are applied. Then a draw takes place. Children who are not drawn for their first preference are then assessed for their second and, if necessary, third preferred school.

No. During the registration periods the schools make no statements about the number of registrations. This is to keep the procedure fair for everyone.

Children who were previously not drawn at one of the preferred schools can take part in the extra round to see whether there is a chance of placement improvement. The order of the list of schools cannot be changed or extended.

This depends on several factors. Children who take part in the draw for placement improvement all have the same chance. They take part on an equal footing in this extra draw round.

Then the SchoolStart Westland coordinator will contact you. Together you discuss the options.

In June and December there are extra draw rounds at schools where places have become available in the meantime. If your child has been placed at a lower preference, you can take part to still get a higher preference. Children who were not drawn at any of their preferred schools also take part in this round.

Together with the placement offer you receive an enrolment form. Fill it in (the child's BSN, the Dutch citizen service number, is needed) and hand it in at the school within 14 days. This makes the placement final. If you do not respond or do not accept the offer, the place can go to another child.

Let the school know as soon as possible. They can then offer the freed-up place to another child during the placement improvement round.

Your child may start school from the fourth birthday, on the first school day after the birthday. The school invites you beforehand for getting-to-know days to meet the teacher, the classroom and the other children.

For example a language delay, a physical disability or behavioural problems. If your child needs extra support, indicate this on the registration form. You will be invited for a conversation with the school.

In Westland there are primary schools with a language class and VVE schools (early childhood education) where extra attention is given to language. Under Support and extra help you will find more information.

For substantive questions about the procedure, a specific school or your registration: email contact@schoolstartwestland.nl.

For technical questions or if registering does not work: contact the service desk at info@otservicedesk.nl .

Do you have a complaint? Follow the complaints procedure of the board of the school of your first preference. For complaints about how SchoolStart Westland is carried out you can also email contact@schoolstartwestland.nl .