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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
1001 Histoires
Responsable : Institut suisse Jeunesse et Médias (ISJM)
Lieu du cours : Bussigny
021 311 52 20
Animations en portugais et en français autour de récits, comptines et histoires
Accueil, rencontre et orientation sociale
Responsable : Appartenances - Espace Femmes Riviera
Lieu du cours : Vevey
021 922 45 23
Accueil, rencontre et orientation sociale en faveur de femmes migrantes avec ou sans enfants
Accueil, rencontre et orientation sociale
Responsable : Appartenances - Espace Femmes Yverdon-les-Bains
Lieu du cours : Yverdon-les-Bains
024 426 03 36
Rencontres et animations en faveur de femmes migrantes avec ou sans enfants
Avanti
Responsable : Etablissement primaire et secondaire Villeneuve Haut-Lac
Lieu du cours : Villeneuve
021 557 35 00
Accueil anticipé et accompagnement des futurs élèves allophones de 1P
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
Chez nous, chez vous / ateliers de français
Responsable : Globlivres
Lieu du cours : Renens
021 635 02 36
Ateliers d'échange et de partage d'expériences vécues en français avec accueil enfants en âge pré-scolaire
Cours "Apprendre l'école"
Responsable : Français en Jeu
Lieu du cours : Pully
021 552 44 05
Cours de français débutants pour des parents qui souhaitent apprendre la langue pour mieux comprendre ce que leurs enfants vivent à l'école vaudoise

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. For registrations in Lausanne, contact directly the appropriate Service.

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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