Which day school is the right one?

You should bearthis in mind when looking for a suitable all-day care centre for your child.

1. CLARIFY NEEDS

Do you want your child to be looked after from morning to evening on school days, or would you like to decide for yourself to what extent they take advantage of additional programmes? Should your child be taught in a public school or is a private institution also an option? (Private schools are usually run like fully-fledged day schools.) Are you prepared to accept a longer journey to school?

2. OBTAIN INFORMATION

Ask the cantonal education authority for a list of schools that offer a cross-curricular programme. Find out how the respective terms are used in your canton. Do the so-called day schools really live up to their name? Make a preliminary selection, making sure that the schools in question have a mission statement that combines teaching and care. Contact the schools: Are there any admission requirements? How does the application process work? Are there waiting lists? What monthly costs can you expect if your child is offered a place?

3. GET A PICTURE ON SITE

Take part in the information events, if possible together with your child. Have a look at the premises. Are there enough places for everyone to retreat? Are there areas for the older pupils? Try to talk to other parents and exchange ideas.

Where are there day schools?

According to statistics from the association www.tagesschulen.ch, there are 83 day schools in Switzerland with around 4669 places. There are 8 day schools such as Tagesschule Zug(www.bildung-betreuung.ch). This does not include private day schools such as bilingual schools. More information can be found here:
www.privatschulen-schweiz.ch
www.swiss-schools.ch

www.bildung-betreuung.ch (keyword: public schools)

What costs should parents expect?

Fees vary from school to school. Unlike the Zug day school presented here, parental contributions in most public day schools in Switzerland depend on income and family size. The amount that parents pay can be found in the so-called tariff or contribution calculators on the websites of the schools or the respective city or canton (google with the following keywords: Erziehungsdirektion/ Volksschulen/Tagesschulen/ Betreuung).

READ MORE:

  • «A day school is like an extended family»
  • Interview: Why do day schools have such a hard time in Switzerland?