School websites can explain qualifications and facilities. A conversation or visit should reveal how the school day works for a child arriving from another country.
Ask how newcomers enter the classroom
“Do you offer German support?” is too broad. Ask who assesses language needs, whether support happens inside or outside regular lessons, how often it is reviewed, and how families learn about progress. For older pupils, ask how language learning interacts with subject grading and qualification routes.
If your child has not studied the same subjects or sequence, describe that gap plainly. Ask who decides class placement and what catch-up support is realistic. Do not send sensitive records until the school confirms a secure and appropriate channel.
Follow one ordinary day
Trace arrival, lesson start, breaks, lunch, homework and after-school care. Clarify supervision between activities and whether care requires a separate registration. If transport involves several connections, test the route around the real start and finish time.
Observe where pupils put belongings, how changes are announced and whether there is a calm person or place for questions. These details can matter greatly during the first weeks even though they rarely appear in brochures.
Understand family communication
Ask which messages arrive by email, paper, parent portal or class representative; what is translated; and how parents raise a concern. Find out how much notice families receive for closures, trips and schedule changes.
Finish with process questions: documents, decision maker, likely response date and the next action on both sides. Write down what was confirmed and what remains uncertain. The goal is not to collect impressive features—it is to picture your child’s week and know what must happen next.
Planning a move with children? Ask about a family education consultation.