What to do.

Compulsory education and qualification

Your child may attend school from age 4 Your child is subject to compulsory education from age 5 to 16.

Compulsory education is designed to keep young people in school until they have enough education to find a job. This is followed by compulsory qualification. This means that young people aged 16 and 17 who do not have sufficient education or a diploma are obliged to obtain a diploma. This is a havo, vwo, or mbo diploma. The child can also fulfill the qualification obligation through a combination of learning and working.

Exemption to enrollment

Your child may be exempt from enrollment in a school in 4 cases:

• Your child cannot attend school because of a physical or mental disability.
• You feel that no school fits your religion or belief.
• Your child is enrolled in a school abroad.
• You lead a migratory life and your children travel with you. For example, you are a boatman, fairground operator or circus worker.

The documents you need for the exemption depends on the reason for exemption:

• statement from a physician, educator or psychologist
• statement explaining why no school in the area fits your religious or philosophical beliefs
• statement from the principal of the foreign school

Exemption from school attendance (special leave).

You can get an exemption for your child not to attend school. This can be for the following reasons:

• child is sick
• a religious holiday
• an important event such as a wedding, funeral or family move
• vacation outside school vacations, because your profession does not allow you to go away during school vacations (maximum 10 days per year).

You must be able to prove through documentary evidence that the exemption is needed.

Exemption up to age 6

Is your child not yet 6 years old? Then you may keep your child at home to avoid putting too much strain on him/her. This is allowed up to 5 hours per week. You can extend this to a maximum of 10 hours per week if you get permission from the director.

You do not need any documents to get the exemption.