In short: children who turn 6 by 31 August inclusive enter the preparatory class. Children who turn 6 between 1 September and 31 December can be enrolled on the basis of a recommendation on developmental level — issued by the kindergarten if the child attended one, or by CJRAE if they did not attend or have returned from abroad. Calendar age is not decisive; cognitive, emotional and social maturity is.
This is the final stage of the preschool path and the first of the school one. Below is what actually happens and what you need to do as a parent in Cluj.
Who enters the preparatory class, and when
The basic rule is the age reached by the end of August:
| Situation | What applies |
|---|---|
| Turns 6 by 31 August inclusive | Enrols without additional assessment |
| Turns 6 between 1 September and 31 December | Can enrol with a recommendation on developmental level |
| Turns 6 after 31 December | Stays at kindergarten another year |
For the second group, the criterion is not age itself but whether the developmental level is appropriate. The law looks at the child, not the date on the certificate.
Who issues the recommendation
This is the distinction many parents miss:
If the child attends kindergarten — the recommendation is issued by the kindergarten, at the parent’s request. This is the simplest case: the teacher knows the child, and the procedure is handled within the unit.
If the child did not attend kindergarten or has returned from abroad — the recommendation is issued by CJRAE (in Cluj, CJRAE Cluj), also at the parent’s request.
The assessment itself is short: according to CMBRAE Bucharest, the activity lasts a maximum of 15–20 minutes. It is not an exam and there is no grade — it is a structured observation of developmental level.
The period for filing requests, assessment and issuing recommendations is set annually, before the actual preparatory class enrolment window. Check exact dates with ISJ Cluj and CJRAE Cluj.
The calendar, in structure
The order is stable from year to year, even though the dates change:
- Developmental level assessment — for children turning 6 between September and December. Request → assessment → recommendation.
- Filing enrolment applications — online or at the chosen school.
- First allocation round — on general and specific criteria.
- Second round — for children still without a place, on the remaining places.
⚑ Exact dates are set annually by ministerial order. Do not rely on last year’s calendar — confirm with the school and on the inspectorate’s website.
What “appropriate developmental level” means
It is not about letters and numbers. The assessment looks at overall maturity:
- Autonomy — manages the toilet alone, dresses, eats, looks after their belongings.
- Language and communication — makes themselves understood by adults outside the family, follows multi-step instructions.
- Attention and self-regulation — can stay with an adult-led activity, waits their turn.
- Socialisation — fits into a group, asks for help when needed.
- Fine motor skills — holds a pencil and scissors correctly, completes simple tasks.
If you have a concern about language, assessment and therapy through CJRAE Cluj are free for children in state education — see free speech therapy through CJRAE Cluj. Request it early, not in the final month.
For bilingual children, mention the languages spoken at home explicitly — see choosing the language of instruction for a bilingual child.
Special cases
The child never attended kindergarten. They can be enrolled, in justified situations (illness, lack of infrastructure, temporary residence abroad), based on the CJRAE assessment. Remember, though, that the middle and large groups are compulsory education — see kindergarten compulsory from age 4.
The family has returned from abroad. The recommendation comes from CJRAE. Start the procedure early, because recognition of the previous school path is added on top.
A child with special educational needs. The pathway includes school orientation through the specialist commission. See enrolling a child with special educational needs.
You want to delay a year even though the child turns 6 in August. Discuss it with the teacher and the school; the general rule remains enrolment at the prescribed age, and exceptions are examined individually.
You are moving to Cluj mid-year. See enrolling outside the school calendar.
What to do in the final kindergarten year
Without turning the large group into a school prep course:
- Ask the teacher, mid-year, how your child is doing on autonomy, language and attention. That leaves time to act.
- Address any language or hearing issues early.
- Practise autonomy: dressing, shoes, toilet, tidying belongings.
- Build the sleep routine — September’s schedule change is easier if it doesn’t start abruptly.
- Visit the school beforehand, if possible.
- Don’t push reading and writing. Those are taught in the preparatory class; social and emotional maturity matters more at entry.
Frequently asked questions
At what age do children start the preparatory class? Children who turn 6 by 31 August inclusive enrol. Those turning 6 between 1 September and 31 December can be enrolled on the basis of a recommendation on developmental level.
Who issues the recommendation for the preparatory class? The kindergarten, if the child attended one, at the parent’s request. CJRAE, if the child did not attend kindergarten or has returned from abroad.
How long does the developmental assessment take? According to CMBRAE Bucharest, the activity lasts a maximum of 15–20 minutes; confirm the duration with CJRAE Cluj. It is not an exam and involves no grading.
My child didn’t attend kindergarten. Can they enter the preparatory class? Yes, in justified situations such as illness, lack of infrastructure or temporary residence abroad, based on the assessment carried out by CJRAE.
What exactly is assessed? The level of cognitive, emotional and social maturity: autonomy, language, attention and self-regulation, socialisation and fine motor skills — not reading or writing.
When are preparatory class applications filed? The calendar is set annually by ministerial order, and the developmental assessment takes place before the enrolment window. Confirm dates with the school and on the ISJ Cluj website.
Sources
- Preparatory class enrolment rules: children turning 6 between 1 September and 31 December — Edupedu
- Assessment of children’s development for preparatory class enrolment — clarifications — Edupedu
- Standard preparatory class application form and required documents — Edupedu
- Pre-University Education Law no. 198/2023 — Romanian Legislative Portal
- CJRAE Cluj — developmental level assessment
- Cluj County School Inspectorate — the calendar as applied locally
Conclusion
The move to the preparatory class has one genuinely important decision for parents: what to do if your child turns 6 after 1 September. The answer does not depend on the calendar but on developmental level — and the recommendation comes from the kindergarten or from CJRAE, depending on your child’s path.
Start early, especially if you have a language concern: assessment through CJRAE Cluj is free, but places are limited. For every other stage of the preschool journey, explore the piticluj.ro interactive map and our guides. See also our data sources.