Children, schools and childcare

Education is run by the cantons and delivered by your commune, which is good news: the school your child attends is decided by where you registered.

Enrolment goes through the commune or the local school authority, and it starts with the registration you already did. Contact them as soon as you have an address, not once term approaches.

Public schools teach in the local language and place newcomers in integration or language support classes first. That transition is normal here and the school will tell you how it works locally.

International and bilingual private schools exist in and around the larger cities. They fill early, so if that is your route, apply well before you move.

Childcare (Kita, crèche, Tagesfamilien) is booked directly with the provider and waiting lists are long in the cities. Ask your commune for its list of providers and subsidy rules, because both are local.