Find out more about our new Phorms campus in Prenzlauer Berg

As a first step, parents fill out our non-binding registration form online. We then send a confirmation of receipt and our Admissions Team contacts the parents to discuss the next steps. We may request additional information, certificates or documents.

Each child needs to go through our admission process which differs depending on the year group applied for. We want to get to know the children and learn more about their level of knowledge in the key subject areas and their language skills.
Children for the trial days for new grade 1 classes are chosen based on the following criteria:

• Siblings or switch from another Phorms school.
• Children growing up bilingually
• Social and cultural diversity and balance between girls and boys
• Registration date at Phorms Berlin

During the testing for grade 1, the children solve age-appropriate tasks and play with other children of the same age whilst being supervised by some of our Year 1 teachers.
If applying for a school place in a higher grade, the child will visit the respective class for three to five trial days and participate in the regular school day. During the trial days, the parents also have an interview with our head of primary school to enable us to learn more about the family, the aims for their child and a possible cooperation with the school.

Given the approval of the teachers after the trial days, we offer selected children a place at our school. The place offers are sent out via email.

Once the parents accept the place we send out the contract by post.

For our care-intensive, bilingual concept in the kindergarten, we do not receive any additional state funding. This concept includes, in particular, English-speaking educators and staff who work in the kindergarten groups in addition to the legally required staffing ratio, further training in the area of bilingual education, individual support for the children and targeted preparation for school with its own courses and activities.

Since parents specifically choose Phorms because of the bilingual concept and especially want to support the increased care ratio, the association "Förderverein der Phorms-Kindertagesstätten Berlin e.V." was founded in April 2021. The sole purpose of the association is to provide the necessary financial means for the special concept in our nurseries. The supporting members thus secure the bilingual concept in our Berlin nurseries in the long term; nevertheless joining is voluntary for parents.

Fees are based on the annual income from two years before, (e.g. for the school year 2021/2022 we look at the income tax statement of 2019). The gross annual income includes all income from both legal guardians in that specific year. It is not possible to set off income against “negative income” (such as loss on rental income or leases).

As proof of parents’ income of up to 130,000 Euro p.a., we accept an income tax return – or if this document is not yet available – another suitable form of proof of income. If parents pay fees according to the highest income level, they do not have to submit any other documents.

Example reference points for the funding contribution are:

Gross annual income - Monthly tuition fees
less than 20,000 € 135 €
50,000 € 212 €
75,000 € 246 €
100,000 € 275 €
over 130,000 € 349 € (maximum rate)

The subsidy contribution is an annual contribution in twelve monthly installments, which first accrue at the beginning of the nursery year on August 1st of each year.

Admission fee
There is no admissions fee for Nursery and Reception. It will only be charged when a child transfers to the Primary School.

Sibling discount
Siblings receive a reduced membership contribution. For the first-born child the full membership contribution is due. The second-born child receives a reduction of 25% and for the third-born child the membership contribution is reduced by 50%. For the fourth-born child and any further siblings we offer a reduction of 75%. Requirement for the granting of the discount is the simultaneous attendance of all relevant siblings at a Phorms nursery/school in Berlin.

Kita-Gutschein
Our provider, Phorms Berlin gGmbH, receives financial support for childcare from the Berlin Senate as an independent youth welfare organization. Therefore, the legal guardians have to apply for a so-called "Nursery Voucher" (Kita-Gutschein) at their local district office (Bezirksamt).

The Nursery Voucher is free of charge for all children who are registered in Berlin. The costs for the Nursery Voucher for Brandenburg residents differ from those in Berlin. The local district office in Brandenburg will calculate the fees and will be able to provide further information.

Due to this arrangement with the Senat, we are only allowed to accept children at our Nursery who have a Kita-Gutschein. The conditions for obtaining a Kita-Gutschein are either that parents and children have their main place of residence in Berlin/Brandenburg, or parents have their main place of work in Berlin/Brandenburg.

Meals
As we offer a healthy range of meals including breakfast, lunch, afternoon snack and drinks, we charge an additional catering fee. The monthly fee is 70 Euros. This includes the 23 Euros in the cost allocation from the Kita-Gutschein, as well as the additional Phorms meal fee of 47 Euros. For children with a primary residence in Brandenburg the catering fee is 47 Euros. The charges for the lunch according to the Brandenburg cost allocation again differ from the 23 Euros. For exact details please contact your local Brandenburg district office.

Tax deductibility
The monthly contributions to the "Förderverein der Phorms-Kindertagesstätten Berlin e.V."may be deductible as special expenses in the context of the income tax return as care expenses in the amount of two thirds of the expenses, but not more than 4,000 Euros per child (§ 10 para. 1 no. 5 EStG special expenses). This does not apply to expenses for lessons, the teaching of special skills and for sporting and other leisure activities. The prerequisite for this is that the child lives in the taxpayer's household.

Phorms and the Förderverein do not assume any liability for this information. Please discuss any questions directly with your tax advisor.

In order to enable as many children as possible to access our schools, Phorms tuition fees are based on family income.

Annual gross income - Monthly contributions
up to 50,000€* 112-489€
- up to 30,000€ 112€
- up to 32,000€ 148€
- up to 34,000€ 184€
- up to 36,000€ 220€
- up to 38,000€ 256€
- up to 40.000€ 293€
- up to 42.000€ 332€
- up to 44.000€ 372€
- up to 46.000€ 411€
- up to 48.000€ 450€
- up to 50.000€ 489€
from 50.000 € 535 €
from 80.000 € 569 €
from 130.000 € 782

Fees are based on the annual income from two years before, (e.g. for the school year 2021/2022 we look at the income tax statement of 2019). The gross annual income includes all income from both legal guardians in that specific year. It is not possible to set off income against “negative income” (such as loss on rental income or leases). As proof of parents’ income of up to 130,000 Euro p.a., we accept an income tax return – or if this document is not yet available – another suitable form of proof of income. If parents pay tuition fees according to the highest income level, they do not have to submit any other documents.

The tuition fee is an annual contribution which is paid in twelve equal monthly rates starting on August 1st of each year.

Admissions fee
The admissions fee is 2.5 times the monthly Phorms tuition fee, due when the enrolment contract is submitted to the school.

Sibling discount
Siblings receive reduced tuition rates. For the first-born child the full Phorms tuition fee is due. The second-born child receives a reduction of 25% and for the third-born child the Phorms tuition fee is reduced by 50%. For the fourth-born child and any further siblings we offer a reduction of 75%.

Loyalty Bonus
After 5 years at Phorms, parents will receive a loyalty bonus of 10% towards tuition fees starting in their sixth year. The loyalty bonus increases to 20% after 10 years. For students joining our Secondary School in Year 7 the loyalty bonus comes into effect after having completed four years at Phorms, e.g. starting in Year 11.

All-Day Care (Hort)
In our Primary School, we offer full before and after school care from 7.30 a.m. until 6 p.m. During the school day our educators assist in the classroom and afterwards they run after school activities and clubs. Therefore, all of our parents also sign an additional contract for the additional care alongside the primary school contract. This requires an application for a “Hortbescheid” (care voucher) which needs to be submitted to your local district office.

The Berlin Hortbescheid cost-sharing is to be paid in addition to the Phorms fee. The amount depends on income, the amount of care provided (from 1:30pm to 4:00pm or until 6:00pm) and the number of children in the family. The costs are determined by the local district office and are based on the Day Care Cost Sharing Act (Tagesbetreuungskostenbeteiligungsgesetz, TKBG). If, for example, only one child lives in the family and care is provided until 6:00 pm, the monthly contribution varies from 16 euros to 194 euros depending on income.

From the 2019-2020 school year, afternoon care vouchers for students in Years 1 and 2 will be free of charge. Parents must however still apply for the afternoon care with child and youth services (Jugendamt), as with the Kita daycare voucher. From Year 3 onwards, parents will need to make a contribution to the afternoon care voucher.

The costs for the Day Care Voucher for Brandenburg residents differ from those in Berlin. For further information please see your local Brandenburg district office. For any other questions please contact our Admissions Team or consult our information materials.

Catering
All Primary School children are entitled to a free lunch for which parents should register directly with the school caterer. The school caterer will be reimbursed by the Berlin senate.

Furthermore, children will receive additional food for which a Phorms fee of 28 Euros will be levied. For children with primary residence in Brandenburg, the additional meal fee is also 28 Euros. The costs for lunch are set by the Brandenburg Day Care Voucher and can be inquired from the local Brandenburg district office and paid there.

Once registered with the catering company, Gymnasium students can also receive a warm lunch. The costs for this are to be paid to the catering company directly.

Other fees
The costs for school supplies, the obligatory school uniform, field trips and class trips as well as voluntary afternoon activities are charged separately.

Tax Deductibility
Parental contributions for primary schools and secondary schools are deductible as school fees in the amount of 30% as special expenses in the context of the income tax return. This does not apply to fees for accommodation, child care and meals for the child. Since 2008, a tax-effective maximum amount of 5,000 Euros p.a. applies. This means that a maximum of 5,000 Euros (30% of 16,667 Euros) per parent per child is deductible as school fees (§ 10 para. 1 no. 9 EStG special expenses).

Day Care costs (and parent contributions to Nursery and Pre-School) may also be deductible. The child must live in the household. Two thirds of the child care expenses up to a maximum amount of 4.000 Euros per child may be deducted as operating costs when determining the gross family income.

Phorms Education cannot accept any liability for the accuracy of the above information. Parents should discuss all matters directly with their tax consultant.