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You are here: Home Education Pre-school Introducing Pre-school and School in Switzerland

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07/09/2010Introducing Pre-school and School in Switzerland

Introducing Pre-school and School in Switzerland Here's a short introduction to our Pre-school and School sections for Switzerland.

PRE-SCHOOLS

The childcare system
For families with babies and young children, one of the first considerations upon arriving in a new country of residence is finding quality international childcare. Parents should find out about any government childcare subsidies or daycare funding for which they may be eligible.

Check out our feature on relocating your family to Switzerland for some general information on Swiss daycare centres and benefits.

Support groups
Check out our listings of family clubs and support groups or find the nearest family support and play groups in our A-Z listings. These groups give you a chance to network with other expat parents, discover more facilities and simply to socialise and have fun.

Top tips for expat families with young children
With tiny tots, getting out and about is a must. Check out our features on family activities in Zurich, Basel and Bern. Expatica articles in the Kids section include tips on where to take your little ones to let off steam, such as the Food Museum in Vevey.

The Travel and Tourism section provides information on outdoor activities that the whole family can enjoy, from skiing the Franco-Swiss alps to brunching on a farm.



SCHOOLS

Choosing an international school
Expats living in Switzerland can choose to enrol their children in one of the country’s 38 international schools. They can also consider Montessori Schools and schools that meet special needs.

Designed to ease the educational transition of a move from one country to another, such expat schools are a good choice for the children of foreign parents who are staying temporarily in the host country. Qualifications such as the International Baccalaureate are becoming increasingly popular with people who relocate frequently.

Parents who are sure they will repatriate while their children are of school age need to select an expat school system which allows easy integration of their children into their home-country education system upon return.

Choosing a local school
However, for families planning to settle into a country long-term, the local school system could be the most effective path. Check out our overview of the Swiss education system.

Every school will have its pro and cons, and parents will have to consider such factors as the age of their children and language(s) spoken in the school before making a selection, especially when considering schools in Switzerland, where numerous styles and languages are often used in teaching.

Overall, when the right schooling decisions are made, expats feel that their children benefit from their education abroad; expanding your children’s horizons culturally will aid in developing the intellectual, personal, emotional and social skills children need to live, learn and work in a rapidly globalising world.

Education advice
Professional advice from expat school organisations can help expats arrive at the best solution for their children, or even themselves, should they be seeking to continue higher education. Why not ask Expatica’s education expert Margot Roose via our Ask the Expert section?    

Expats who’d like to share their viewpoints or ask advice from ‘veteran’ expats in Switzerland can also visit the Expatica forums and get involved in discussions on education issues.


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