Last year of nursery · Oct–NovFlemish schoolsKOALA screening: understanding Dutch at age 5
Every 5-year-old in the 3de kleuterklas (last year of nursery) of a Flemish school takes the KOALA screening between 10 October and 30 November. Through games, the teacher checks how well your child understands Dutch. Children who need more support get it before year 1. KOALA does not decide whether your child moves up to year 1.
When is KOALA?
Every year in the same period, in your child's own class.
Last year of nursery starts
School is compulsory from age 5, so every child attends this year.
KOALA screening
The class teacher or care coordinator runs the tasks in a familiar setting.
Extra language support
Children who need it get extra support in class or in small groups.
Moving up to year 1
The class council decides at the end of the year. KOALA does not decide this.
What does your child do in KOALA?
Do tasks
- The teacher gives an instruction, your child carries it out
- Words such as naast (next to), onder (under) and achter (behind)
Find tasks
- The teacher says or asks something
- Your child points to it on a large picture
Choose tasks
- Your child picks which picture matches a sentence or a short story
What does the result mean?
The screening shows which children need extra language support. Based on the result, the school team decides what to do, for your child, the class or the whole school.
Green zone
The screening indicates a lower risk of language difficulties. The teacher continues to follow your child’s development.
Orange zone
Your child gets extra chances during the year to hear and use Dutch.
Red zone
If your child understands too little Dutch, they follow a compulsory taalintegratietraject: more intensive support at school.
More test guides
Sources
- Nederlands Evalueren: test overview (Dutch) (opens in a new tab)
- Inschrijven in Brussel: who has priority? (opens in a new tab)
- Onderwijs Vlaanderen (opens in a new tab)
Updated on 12 October 2026. Spotted something out of date? Let us know.