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Taking the right steps for your children

If you are arriving in the canton of Vaud with children you will need to do certain steps for them: enrol them into school or further education/training, find childcare, get to know leisure activities that are available to them.

Preschool

If you have young children, you can register with a daycare centre or a family member to look after them during your working hours. The price is means tested according to the salary of both parents.

Please note, there are limited places, and you are usually put on a waiting list. It is advisable to register even before the birth of your child.

There are home care options as well: you can find a “nanny” or an au pair, you will arrange the payment between the two of you.

Occasionally, you can request a babysitter who can look after your children for some hours in the evening or at weekends. The Red Cross trains young people on how to take care of children.

Offers are also available for children of immigrants. Consult the organisations in the canton of Vaud, they can provide you with information. Choose from the list below.

Search for activities

1001 Histoires
Responsable : Institut suisse Jeunesse et Médias (ISJM)
Lieu du cours : Lausanne
021 311 52 20
Animations en langue d’origine et en français autour des récits, des comptines et des histoires
1001 Histoires
Responsable : Institut suisse Jeunesse et Médias (ISJM)
Lieu du cours : Renens
021 311 52 20
Animations en langue d’origine et en français autour des récits, des comptines et des histoires
1001 Histoires
Responsable : Institut suisse Jeunesse et Médias (ISJM)
Lieu du cours : Payerne
021 311 52 20
Animations en langue d’origine et en français autour des récits, des comptines et des histoires
1001 Histoires
Responsable : Institut suisse Jeunesse et Médias (ISJM)
Lieu du cours : Vevey
021 311 52 20
Animations en langue d’origine et en français autour des récits, des comptines et des histoires
1001 Histoires
Responsable : Institut suisse Jeunesse et Médias (ISJM)
Lieu du cours : Ecublens
021 311 52 20
Animations en langue d’origine et en français autour des récits, des comptines et des histoires
Activités de rencontres et d’animations
Responsable : Appartenances - Espace Femmes Yverdon-les-Bains
Lieu du cours : Yverdon-les-Bains
024 425 06 65
Rencontres et animations en faveur de femmes migrantes avec ou sans enfants
Avanti
Responsable : EPS Villeneuve Haut-Lac
Lieu du cours : Villeneuve
021 557 34 98
Accueil précoce des futurs élèves allophones afin de leur permettre d'acquérir quelques bases en français et de favoriser leur intégration à la rentrée scolaire
Bibliobus
Responsable : Association Bains de Livres
Lieu du cours : Aigle
Bibliothèque mobile destinée aux enfants de 0-12 ans, livres en français et dans les principales langues de la migration
Bibliobus
Responsable : Association Bains de Livres
Lieu du cours : Bex
Bibliothèque mobile destinée aux enfants de 0-12 ans, livres en français et dans les principales langues de la migration
Bibliobus
Responsable : Association Bains de Livres
Lieu du cours : Lavey
Bibliothèque mobile destinée aux enfants de 0-12 ans, livres en français et dans les principales langues de la migration
Café Bienvenue
Responsable : Commune de Montreux
Lieu du cours : Clarens
078 845 86 18
Ateliers d'échange et de partage d'expériences vécues en français pour femmes migrantes accompagnées de leurs enfants
Café Bienvenue à Morges
Responsable : Ville de Morges, Service cohésion sociale et logement
Lieu du cours : Morges
021 804 15 14
Ateliers d'échange et de partage d'expériences vécues en français pour femmes migrantes accompagnées de leurs enfants

Compulsory and extracurricular school

In Switzerland, attending school is compulsory from the age of 4 and takes place over 11 years. All children, regardless of their residence status, are admitted free to the public schools of the canton of Vaud. In this situation, children who do not speak French or at a low level can benefit from free intense French lessons.

When you arrive, if you have children of school-going age you must register them as soon as possible in a school in the region you live. Find more informations on the school structure of the canton de Vaud translated in 16 languages and schemes of the school structure compared to different countries.

In certain communes, especially in Lausanne, the school arranges special lessons for students who have just arrived in Switzerland and who do not speak much French.

Once your child is in school, there are structures in place where your child can go before, during and after school hours. They are usually called APEMS (school childcare) or UAPE (reception for school-goers). You can ask directly your child’s school regarding these extracurricular options.

Also, there are parent association (APE) groups; there exists about 40 in the canton, they can help you to understand better how the Vaud school system works. Find your closest APE here.

After compulsory school

At the end of your child’s schooling, students can choose to continue their education by following a structure that best suits them. The 5 regional centres for educational and professional orientation can offer you more information on the type of options that exist.

The State financially encourages persons to do apprenticeships and follow further education after school; these scholarships are subject to certain conditions from nationality to residence. This financial support is intended to supplement the support of the family. Contact the cantonal scholarship office (OCBE) to find out more.

For young persons from 15 to 19 years of age who do not speak French, the school of transition (EDT) can offer 6-month integration modules.

Finding a training when arriving at the canton de Vaud

Various informations are provided by the cantonal office for educational and vocational guidance (OCOSP) in order to help you in your training search (Migration portal, extension on apprenticeship for integration).

 

Language and culture of origin courses (LCO)

For your child to develop their original language in parallel with learning French, the language and culture of origin offer courses organised by various immigrant and embassy associations. You can register your child for classes in Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Arabic, etc.

The commune and other school establishments will provide you with the necessary information on the LCO courses that take place closest to your home.

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