Finding a school in Switzerland
Taking the children out of their familiar surroundings is rarely easy. Neither for the children nor for the parents. So it is very important to plan your arrival in the new country well and of course this includes the consideration: “What kind of school should our children go to?”. The selection is not endless, but there are a few options that you can consider.
Public (local) school
If you have moved into your apartment or house and registered with the authorities, you will automatically receive a letter regarding the start in kindergarten or the school of the children. At least 1 year of kindergarten and of course the school are compulsory in Switzerland. Entry is from the age of approx. 5 years (depending on the date of birth), the school from 7 years.
Kindergarten and school are free of charge. There are no uniforms. All important school materials such as pens, notebooks and books are provided by the school.
In Switzerland, children usually go home for lunch. As an alternative, a so called “lunch table” is offered in many places or there is the possibility to use the after-school care center (both for a fee).
Wednesday afternoon is free for all children of all ages. There are school holidays in summer, autumn holidays in October, Christmas holidays, so-called sports holidays in February and holidays in spring, April / May.
If the children do not speak German yet, they will automatically be assigned to an “introductory class”. There will be other children there who also don’t speak German yet. The focus of the lessons will be on learning the German language. But there are also math lessons, sports, music etc. Basically everything, like in a regular class, but the language is the most important, so that the children can attend one of the usual classes after a certain amount of time.
Depending on the personal needs of each child, support measures are considered by the kindergarten and school:
Talent support, language support, language support for foreign-language children, support in individual subjects, speech therapy, psychomotor skills, etc. If further support is required, solutions are discussed together with the parents.
Bilingual schools
This can be an option if you want the children to be able to focus on at least one of the languages previously known. Mostly one language is English and, depending on the location, the second language German or French. Depending on the school, the lessons take place in English, for example, and there are intensive German or French lessons, or depending on the subject, the lessons are held in English or entirely in German or French. It is important to clarify how intensively each language is used and what would therefore be best for the children.
International schools
Depending on how long the stay is and how old the children are, it is certainly advisable to go to an international school so that the children can continue exactly where they are currently learning. In many cases, this can make it easier to move to the new country, as many things are already familiar. Here you should also clarify in good time whether there are places available for the appropriate age group, which program the child has followed so far and whether the respective school offers the degree that you are aiming for. The schools practically always offer shuttle buses to the school, so that they can be reached even without the parents’ accompaniment (for additional costs). Basically, the children in Switzerland go to school alone. Especially the older ones. The public transportation connections are good and safe.
The schools also offer numerous additional courses and activities (football clubs, theater classes, musical instruments lessons etc.). These are also subject to a fee. Depending on where you live, you could also look for suitable courses in the vicinity. Could be an advantage to get used to better neighborhoods, to make Swiss friends and to learn German or French or Italian faster and more intensely.