Class 0: A New Approach to School Readiness

More children are entering school with significant developmental delays, particularly in behavior, concentration, and language. The nationwide Class 0 program addresses this issue by providing targeted support to children with additional needs before they start school. In Germany, education policy is set by the federal states; Class 0 is a Germany-specific program coordinated for nationwide implementation.

Origins and concept

The model was originally developed at Gräfenau Elementary School in Ludwigshafen by principal Barbara Mächtle. It targets preschool children who have had little or no experience in childcare settings.

The program includes:

• Two two-hour sessions per week
• Small groups of no more than ten children
• Instruction from specialized education professionals

The focus is not on early assessment or teaching academic content, but rather on a holistic approach. The program emphasizes language development, social-emotional growth, and motor skills. The goal is to ease the transition to school, provide orientation, and foster a love of learning.

Nationwide expansion through foundations and business partnerships

After gaining broader public attention through the talk show Markus Lanz, the retailer ROSSMANN initially provided one million euros to enable 100 schools to implement the program. Each participating school receives up to €8,000 for education professionals and materials.

The response was overwhelming, with over 250 applications. The initiative continues to grow: companies like BASF and Procter & Gamble, along with various foundations, have committed financial support, which has expanded the program's budget and enabled more schools to participate. The nationwide implementation is coordinated and guided by the nonprofit education initiative #wirfürschule.

Networking and outlook

Networking and communication among education professionals is facilitated by the community platform edusiia, which has established a dedicated space for Class 0 participants to share methods, practical implementation strategies, and tested materials.

We're in touch with participating schools. We'll continue to follow the program's development and are interested to see how this pilot initiative proves itself in practice.

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References and further information:

• Education initiative #wirfürschule: More details about the program for schools
• ROSSMANN: More than 100 schools launch with "Class 0" – education initiative grows with strong partners
• ZDF / Markus Lanz: Broadcast from October 21, 2025
• edusiia community platform: Class 0 space – methods & implementation