What age do kids start school in Switzerland?

Children generally start their schooling at the age of four, although some cantons make exceptions. Lower secondary school covers three years. Most young people have therefore completed their compulsory education by around the age of 15.

What age do Swiss start kindergarten?

When do children start kindergarten? Children generally begin their schooling at age four in kindergarten or a similar classroom setting at the age of four. The deadline for enrolment is usually 31 July. This means that children who have turned four by the end of July, will start kindergarten after the summer holidays.

What age is preschool in Switzerland?

Preschool in Switzerland begins when your child is four years (or four years and six months if they are born later in the year) old. It is designed to prepare children for regular primary school starting at age six to nine depending on whether preschool is integrated with primary.

What are the stages of school in Switzerland?

The Swiss educational infrastructure consists of four levels: the primary level, the secondary levels I and II as well as the tertiary level.

What time do kids start school in Switzerland?

How long is a school day in Switzerland? Kindergarten (4-6yrs) starts with half days, usually 4-5 half days. Depending on the canton, times can be 8.20-11.30am or a combination of mornings and one afternoon, usually from 1.30-4.00pm. Primary school starts with 5 mornings, starting usually around 8am and 1-2 afternoons.

Schools in Swizerland: the public school system (age 4 to 15)

Are Swiss schools free?

Mandatory education in Switzerland lasts for 11 years. Under the Swiss constitution, schooling is free and open to all children. The cantons are in charge of education matters, meaning there are currently 26 different school systems.

Is kindergarten free in Switzerland?

Kindergarten (Preschool-école enfantine)

Children in Switzerland must attend Kindergärten. Luckily, public spaces for Kindergärten are available to everyone and tend to be free of charge, while private facilities charge fees of CHF 60–150 per day.

What language do Swiss learn in school?

The language of instruction is German, French, Italian or Romansh, depending on the language region. Traditionally, language learning is important in Switzerland. Students learn a second official language of Switzerland as well as English during their compulsory school years.

What languages do Swiss children learn?

For students in Switzerland, being taught in their regional language – French, German, Italian or Romansh – is the norm.

How do kids go to school in Switzerland?

Compulsory education (kindergarten, primary and lower secondary) lasts 11 years in Switzerland. After that, the path typically leads to general education or vocational education and training, as can be seen below. In many cantons, there's a big choice to be made aged 14-15 after lower secondary school.

What age do you start middle school in Switzerland?

Secondary school in Switzerland is divided between lower secondary (also known as middle school) for children of 12 to 15 years old and upper secondary for children of 15 to 18 years old. Class sizes range between 16 and 27 in middle school and between 22 – 26 pupils in upper secondary school.

How much does preschool cost in Switzerland?

Daycare, family care and preschool: childcare in Switzerland

Daycares and preschools generally cost between CHF 110 and 130 a day. These rates vary greatly depending on your canton and town. Depending on what they earn, parents are expected to cover between 30 and 100 percent of this amount.

Does Switzerland have kindergarten?

In French-speaking Switzerland, the two kindergarten years are usually included in what is called «cycle 1» or «cycle primaire 1», which lasts for four years. The canton of Ticino offers in addition to the two compulsory years of kindergarten, an initial, voluntary year for children from age three.

Do kids in Switzerland have homework?

Education is the responsibly of the cantons in Switzerland, but much is decided on the local school level. Homework is not obligatory . The Lehrplan 21 (Curriculum 21) for German-speaking Switzerland, for example, only says when homework shouldn't be given, such as over a bank holiday, but not if it should be given.

What age do kids start school in Zurich?

In the Canton of Zurich, compulsory education generally begins at the age of 4.

When a child is born in Switzerland?

Yes, your child will acquire Swiss citizenship at birth. According to the Swiss Citizenship Act (SCA), a child born to Swiss parents is a Swiss citizen from birth. If the parents are unmarried and only the mother is Swiss, the child automatically receives Swiss citizenship.

How long is a school day in Switzerland?

Swiss school days are relatively short, with classes beginning between 8.30 and 9.30am. It is then expected for your child to return home at noon for a one-and-a-half-hour lunch break. Then there is an afternoon session that concludes around 3.30 to 4.30pm.

Is Switzerland kid friendly?

Switzerland makes it so easy for families to enjoy the Swiss alps, with easy trails suitable for strollers, epic alpine playgrounds, theme trails with interactive play stations, exciting extras like mountain scooters, and much more. Here are some "best of" posts to get you started.

Do they teach English in Swiss schools?

All children in Switzerland learn English in school – some in primary school, others not until they reach about 14 and have studied another language already. Language schools are often flexible to meet the needs of the clients, offering classes at varied times of day and on specialist subjects.

Is Health Care Free in Switzerland?

There is no free healthcare in Switzerland and individual private health insurance is compulsory for all residents. Both public and private healthcare in Switzerland is excellent. Facilities are clean and well equipped, waiting times are usually short, and medical professionals often speak English.

Is Switzerland the best country for education?

Switzerland's education system is ranked the best in the world according to the WEF World Competitiveness Reports that assesses “the general level of skills of the workforce and the quantity and quality of education…

Do Swiss schools have uniforms?

As a general rule, school children in Switzerland do not wear uniforms. School uniforms dominate in Britain, Ireland and Cyprus.

Why do parents send their kids to boarding school in Switzerland?

Swiss educational excellence

Switzerland has boasted an exceptional reputation for world-class education for centuries with families from all over the world sending their children here to get a safe, well-rounded, challenging, and life-enriching school experience.

Can kids miss school in Switzerland?

It means that students can be absent from classes for two days per school year - without having to give any reasons. "Parents do not have to apply for this absence," the canton says. "It is sufficient to inform the teacher or the school management."

Do kids travel free on trains in Switzerland?

If traveling with your kids, request a free Swiss Family Card when ordering (the card allows kids age 6–15 to travel free with a parent). Kids 6–15 not on the Family Card (or not accompanied by a parent) pay half of full adult pass price; under 6 ride for free.