Children, Schools and Kindergartens in Czechia
Children, schools and kindergartens in Czechia are among the first practical issues families must resolve after moving. Admission depends mainly on the child’s age, registered address, enrolment date and available capacity.
The final preschool year and nine years of compulsory schooling are mandatory. A foreign child cannot be refused admission solely because they do not yet speak Czech.
Parents should first identify the catchment institution for their address, check the application deadline and prepare the required documents. Applications to other schools are possible, but catchment children usually receive priority.
How kindergartens in Czechia work
Public kindergartens, known as mateřské školy, normally accept children between three and six years old. Children may be admitted from the age of two, but those under three have no legal entitlement to a place.
Preschool education becomes compulsory from the school year following the child’s fifth birthday, provided the child turns five by 31 August. The compulsory year is free in public kindergartens, although parents still pay for meals.
For younger children, the municipality may set a monthly tuition fee. For the 2026/2027 school year, the maximum fee in a public kindergarten is 1,792 CZK per month. The institution may charge less or grant an exemption in qualifying cases. The main rules are explained on the Czech public administration portal.
Applying for a kindergarten place
Regular kindergarten enrolment takes place between 15 March and 15 April for the following school year. Each institution publishes its exact date, application method and admission criteria.
Children living in the kindergarten’s catchment area usually receive priority. Parents may apply to several institutions, but admission outside the main period depends on available places.
The kindergarten normally requests an application, identification documents for the child and legal representative, residence information and a medical certificate. Vaccination must generally be documented for children outside compulsory preschool education. It is not an admission condition for the compulsory preschool year. Current guidance is available from the Czech Ministry of Education.
Starting primary school in Czechia
Compulsory school attendance normally begins in the school year following the child’s sixth birthday and lasts for nine school years.
Since 2026, first-grade enrolment takes place between 15 January and 15 February. Parents may choose a different school, but the catchment school, or spádová škola, gives priority to children registered within its district.
Rules for postponing school entry are becoming stricter. Parents who believe their child needs a postponement should contact the kindergarten, an authorised school counselling facility and the relevant doctor well before enrolment. The official process is described in the Ministry’s enrolment guidance.
How foreign children enter a Czech school
A foreign child can apply to a Czech primary school during the school year. The legal representative usually provides identification, the child’s passport or birth certificate, residence details and, where available, records from the previous school.
Missing foreign school records do not automatically prevent admission. Vaccination certificates are not required for primary school, and insufficient Czech language skills are not a lawful reason for refusal.
If a school has no capacity, request a written decision and contact the municipality or Prague municipal district responsible for arranging compulsory education. The rights of foreign pupils are explained in the official admission methodology.
Children with temporary protection
Children with temporary protection are subject to compulsory education in Czechia. An application to a Czech school should be submitted no later than 90 days after temporary protection is granted.
Online lessons provided by a Ukrainian school do not replace compulsory attendance at a Czech school. Absences must be reported and justified according to the school’s rules. This requirement is confirmed by the Information Portal for Foreigners.
Czech language support
A school must support children who do not speak Czech sufficiently. Foreign pupils may receive free language preparation, and limited knowledge of the teaching language should be considered when their progress is assessed.
In compulsory preschool education, a kindergarten must organise free Czech language preparation when it has at least four children who meet the relevant conditions. Current support options are listed on the Edu.cz education portal.
Alternatives for younger children
Dětské skupiny are registered childcare groups for children from six months old until the start of compulsory schooling. Their age limits, opening hours and fees depend on the provider. Neighbourhood childcare groups may care for no more than four children, including the provider’s own children.
From the 2026/2027 admission cycle, municipalities have a new responsibility in defined cases to arrange care for eligible three-year-old children who were not admitted to their catchment kindergarten. Parents must apply during the regular enrolment period and meet the residence and age conditions described by the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs.
The most practical approach is to begin with the catchment school or kindergarten, respect the official deadlines and keep every written decision. If a compulsory-age child is refused because of insufficient capacity, contact the municipality rather than relying only on verbal information from the institution.