Learning Support via Education and Participation (BuT)
Free individual tutoring for eligible children and adolescents in Essen and the Ruhr region.
Children and young people from families receiving certain state social benefits can obtain funded extracurricular tutoring through the Education and Participation package (BuT). Zielscheibe has been supporting families for years in cooperation with local authorities and schools.
Who is eligible for BuT Learning Support?
Entitlement to BuT benefits applies to families receiving state social assistance, including:
Bürgergeld (Citizen Benefit)
For families registered with the Jobcenter.
Bürgergeld (Citizen Benefit)
Applies to families receiving ongoing Citizen Benefit (Bürgergeld) through Jobcenter Essen or local municipality. The current benefit notice listing all eligible persons is required.
Wohngeld (Housing Benefit)
For low-income families with approved housing allowance.
Wohngeld (Housing Benefit)
For working families with their own earned income who receive housing allowance from the City of Essen to cover residential costs.
Kinderzuschlag (Child Supplement)
Additional financial aid for working parents.
Kinderzuschlag (Child Supplement)
Supplementary allowance from the Family Benefits Office for parents who cover their basic living costs but need child support.
Asylum Seekers Benefits (AsylbLG)
For individuals supported under the Asylum Seekers Act.
Asylum Seekers Benefits (AsylbLG)
Benefits for individuals and families in ongoing asylum procedures or with eligible residence status via the Social Welfare Office.
Other Social Benefits
Under applicable statutory regulations (e.g. Social Welfare SGB XII).
Other Social Benefits
Other statutory social assistance programs, such as basic security benefits or subsistence assistance under SGB XII.
Jurisdiction Notice: The final decision on eligibility and approved hours is made exclusively by the responsible authority (Jobcenter, Social Welfare Office, or City Administration).
How the BuT process works in Essen
Step-by-step from initial contact to approved tutoring start according to the 2026/2027 City of Essen guidelines.
Contact Zielscheibe
You contact us without obligation. Together we clarify for which subject or support need learning support should be applied for and which form is required.
Applications are prepared
Zielscheibe prepares the applications together with you and fills them out. The official forms of the City of Essen apply: regular learning support, German as a foreign language (DaZ) or exam preparation.
School Confirms Learning Need
You have the necessary information confirmed by the school. The school confirms the individual support need and the required subjects. This is why the process cannot be handled entirely online.
Sign the documents
You sign the prepared documents as a legal guardian. Missing documents must be submitted within 4 weeks under the 2026/2027 guidelines.
Attach Required Proofs
You provide us with the current benefit notice (e.g. Bürgergeld, housing benefit, child supplement) and the required school reports or school documents (for pupils from grade 3, the latest report).
Review by Zielscheibe
We check your documents for completeness in advance to avoid queries from the authority.
Submission to the funding body
With your authorisation we submit the application to the responsible funding body (Jobcenter / social welfare office). The funding body alone decides on entitlement, scope and approval. Please start early, as processing takes time.
Match Tutor & Begin 1:1 Tutoring
As soon as written approval arrives, we select a qualified tutor, set fixed weekly times, and immediately begin 1:1 tutoring.
Tutoring starts only after written approval
Tutoring funded via BuT can only begin at Zielscheibe once written approval from the cost carrier is received. An application alone is not sufficient.
Important Rules & 2026/2027 Guidelines in Essen
For the 2026/2027 school year, updated regulations apply to BuT tutoring in Essen.
Tuition Starts Only After Written Approval
State-funded tutoring can only begin once official written approval is issued. Submitting an application is not sufficient to start.
Duration Limit
Regular tutoring is capped at a maximum of two consecutive school years.
Need Threshold
Evaluations focus on grade 'adequate' (Grade 4) to ensure essential learning goals.
No Tutoring in School Vacations
Regular lessons do not run during NRW school holidays (except German DaZ and ZAP Easter camps).
4-Week Submission Deadline
Missing proofs must be provided within 4 weeks of preliminary application.
Annual Re-Application
Approvals never renew automatically. A new application is required each school year.
Lesson Hours & Duration
Max 2 subjects, up to 40 units per year. Max 90 mins up to Grade 3, up to 120 mins from Grade 4.
Families requiring urgent assistance can start immediately via our private self-payer packages (e.g. 10 x 60 minutes). Note: Private lessons cannot be retroactively reimbursed by BuT.
Special Support Programs
Specific forms and rules apply to specialized learning needs.
German as a Second Language (DaZ)
Students needing language integration can receive extended hours under a dedicated form.
Exam Preparation (ZAP 10)
Intensive preparation courses for Grade 10 final exams run in Easter holidays and pre-exam weeks.
Switching Provider to Zielscheibe
Transferring from another institute? Use the provider change form to carry over remaining hours.
Forms & Downloads (2026/2027)
Here you will find the official application documents of the City of Essen and our own documents. We prepare the applications together with you.
Important Notice: Zielscheibe institute stamp is already pre-printed!
On the official application forms (especially supplementary form a3.pdf), the official stamp of Lernförderung Zielscheibe is already affixed and legally valid.
You do not need to obtain the Zielscheibe stamp separately from us. The school's confirmation and stamp and the guardians' signature are required.
Official City of Essen Forms
Supplementary Learning Support Questionnaire (a3.pdf) with Zielscheibe Stamp
Essential form for confirming educational need by the school. The Zielscheibe institute stamp is already pre-printed, only the school signature and stamp are required.
Main Application for Learning Support (Application 1)
Official main application form of the City of Essen and Jobcenter for cost coverage of tutoring under Education and Participation.
Follow-up Application and Supplemental Request (Application 2)
Application form for subsequent approvals or additional tutoring units when educational needs persist.
Provider Transfer Form to Zielscheibe Learning Support
Use this form if you wish to easily transfer from another tutoring provider to Zielscheibe.
Information Leaflet on Learning Support (Jobcenter Essen)
Detailed information sheet from the City of Essen explaining requirements, workflow, and settlement of BuT benefits.
Supplementary Documents for Duisburg (2026)
In Duisburg, support is provided via direct contract and other cost bearers (BuT via Jobcenter Essen is exclusive to Essen). For Duisburg schools, official Anlage 3 is available:
Annex 3: Learning Support Duisburg (2026)
Official supplementary form for students and schools in Duisburg confirming educational learning needs.
For BuT & Publicly Funded Tutoring
Zielscheibe BuT Registration (from School Year 2026/2027)
Internal registration agreement to commence tutoring upon approval by Jobcenter Essen.
Release of Confidentiality and Data Exchange Agreement
Allows Zielscheibe to coordinate directly with the Jobcenter, Social Office, or school for prompt processing.
Voluntary Consent (For All Programs)
Voluntary Consent Form for Photo, Audio, and Video Recordings
Optional consent form for recording media during holiday workshops, learning projects, and community events.
Official Learning Support Guidelines City of Essen 2026/2027
The official decision on approval and hours rests exclusively with the relevant public authority.
BuT Tutoring Outside of Essen
The detailed information on this page relates to the City of Essen procedures for the 2026/2027 school year. Zielscheibe also collaborates with cost carriers and institutions outside Essen, including Duisburg, Bochum, and other Ruhr municipalities.
In other cities, application procedures, forms, scopes of funding, and jurisdictions may differ. For example, families in Duisburg submit their applications directly to their local cost carrier, once approved, Zielscheibe receives the assignment details to commence tutoring.
For funding via youth welfare offices or social institutions, we coordinate the tutoring plans and cost estimates directly with the responsible organizations.
Apply for BuT Learning Support
Contact us early. We help you choose the right form and review your paperwork before submission.
Official approval is required before state-funded tutoring sessions can start.