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Eurydice

EACEA National Policies Platform:Eurydice
Organisational variations and alternative structures in ECEC

Switzerland

4.Early childhood education and care

4.6Organisational variations and alternative structures in ECEC

Last update: 27 November 2023

Childcare

The Scuola dell’infanzia in the canton of Ticino differs from pre-school and the first learning cycle of German- and French-speaking Switzerland in that it takes children from the age of three. In the rest of Switzerland children of this age are cared for by childcare facilities and services.

There are also childcare services with a special educational orientation (e.g. forest school, Infans, Fröbel, Montessori or Steiner). In addition, a day-care centre can offer a specific thematic focus such as music, multilingualism, multiculturalism or even religion. Finally, there are services that offer specific support (e.g. motor development, language development, development of social skills), especially to support the development of children growing up under difficult conditions.

Pre-school or first learning cycle

Parents can enrol their children in private pre-schools with a special focus.