Before the age of 6/7, school attendance is not compulsory. However, parents can enrol their children in crèches, playgroups and day nurseries.

Nursery-stage child care
Berne has a variety of options for parents looking for child care: they can contact childminders, or enrol children in crèches, playgroups or day nurseries. These facilities are sometimes run by the communes but also frequently by private organisations. Information about what options are available can be obtained from social services of the relevant commune.

Child care can be provided on an all-day, morning or afternoon basis or on the weekdays of your choice. Public centers are subsidised by the community and therefore only local children are eligible for enrolment. Public centers may be slightly cheaper than private day care centers but the waiting list for admission may be considerably longer. Cost for child care at public centers is calculated based on the parents' combined assessable income with a minimum and maximum contribution.


The British School of Berne, the English Montessori School and the International School of Berne offer social and pre-educational opportunities for young children. In addition to these three schools, various programs for children age 3-11 are offered by:

The English Speaking Playgroup
Beundenfeldstr. 21
3013 Berne
Tel: 031 332 92 92
www.englishspeakingplaygroup.ch

You can find further information about child care opportunities here or have a look at our Kids' Corner page:

www.childcare.ch

www.projuventute.ch

www.bern.ch/leben_in_bern/persoenliches/familie

http://kinderbetreuung.liliput.ch/

www.biel-bienne.ch/ww/de/pub/wohneninbiel/kinderbetreuung.cfm

www.thun.ch/d/stadtverwaltung/soziales/familie/kinderbetreuung/