Preschool in Switzerland begins when your child is four years old, or four years and six months if they are born later in the year. It is designed to prepare children for regular primary school, which starts somewhere between the ages of six and nine, depending on the school.
Also known as the “first learning cycle” or the “pre-primary level”, preschool is the part of early childhood education that starts in Switzerland from around the age of four and is the beginning of compulsory schooling for children in most cantons.
Preschool gives your child a chance to interact with their peers and transition to life at school, as many preschool classes transfer directly to a primary school.
Although there are some regional variations, most Swiss preschools follow the same school holidays as typical schools. The day starts between 8.30 and continues until noon. You are then expected to pick up your child and provide lunch. The day resumes at 1.30pm and continues until 3.30pm.
Some preschools offer longer hours, particularly international schools, but a typical preschool day is only five and a half hours long. If you are working, you may be forced to find alternative care for your child in the afternoons.
In Switzerland, only some cantons make preschool between the ages of four and six mandatory. In others, it is either voluntary or children only have to attend one year before starting primary school, although they can attend for the full two years if the parents choose. The system that each canton uses is listed below.
The cantons that have two years of compulsory preschool are Aargau, Bern, Basel Land, Basel Stadt, St. Gallen, Schaffhausen, Solothurn, Thurgau and Zurich.
In Appenzell Innerrhoden, Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Lucerne, Nidwalden, Obwalden, Schwyz, Uri and Zug, only one year of preschool is mandatory; the second year is voluntary.
Some cantons make preschool entirely voluntary for your child. In the cantons of Glarus and Graubünden, no parent is obliged to send their child to preschool, but they can choose to do so.
Ticino is the only canton in Switzerland that offers an additional (voluntary) third year of preschool on top of the two compulsory years.
Some cantons, particularly in the French part of Switzerland, integrate preschooling into primary schools, meaning there is little distinction between the two. These cantons are Freiburg / Fribourg, Geneva, Jura, Neuchâtel, Vaud and Valais.
The preschool curriculum is decided upon by your canton of residence. It is non-competitive and there are no rigorous or standardised tests involved. Lessons are likely to include:
Although Swiss preschools are non-selective, you still need to apply for a place for your child. You can apply either directly with the preschool of your choice or via the children’s service team at your local council (Gemeinde).
Once you have selected a preschool, you must write a formal letter to either the school or the Department of Education for your canton, stating your child’s name, age and intended start date, alongside any additional needs, such as the requirement to learn a Swiss language.
Most preschools in Switzerland are state-funded, which means that they are paid for via the tax system in Switzerland and are free for your child to attend. However, some preschools are also run by private institutions like international schools and may charge fees.
Although in principle all children are entitled to a place at preschool, supply can run short in some areas, so it is worth applying for your child’s place well in advance in order to secure it.
In addition to regular preschools, some Swiss cantons offer extra services for children, particularly if their parents are in financial difficulty or work long or abnormal hours. Some of these services include: