Childcare courses/training in Zurich?

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1
I have some experience with children but I want to take some courses.

I am talking about something like: http://www.cache.org.uk/cachednn/Hom...6/Default.aspx

CACHE Level 3 Certificate or Diploma in Child Care and Education or CACHE NVQ Level 3 in Children's Care, Learning and Development or CACHE lEVEL 3 Diploma in Home-based Childcare.

I am also thinking to take some courses that will help me to work in a kindergarden.

The only course that is close to what I want is the one offered by the Schweizerisches Rotes Kreuz but the class I want to enroll to asks me to have a C1 level in German and to understand Swiss German and I am at a B2 level so no way I can go to this one.

I am even thinking to go to UK to take these courses but I wanted to ask here first if there is something out there but I've missed it.

Thank you.

2
I've done some distance learning courses, they are good, but the difference between English and Swiss early childhood education is big, to say the least.

There is a course starting in September, you might consider. It's in Zürich and the language of the course is English. Have a look on their website http://www.foundationsforlearning.ch...rs_course.html

I know of other private schools in Zürich, but their courses are in German and they will probably require you to have C1/C2 level of German.

Hope that helps

3
babynanny- Thank you so much!!

I had in mind to go to UK, do the courses and then come here and work here. As I said before, I have some experience but I want a Certificate, Diploma or any paper to back up my experience.

I know that every country has its own rules and I was thinking if what I want to do in UK would help me here but when I searched for some courses here (as it is easier in many aspects and of course if I want to work here then I need some courses taken here), I just couldn't find. I only found lots of babysitter course that I am not interested in so at one point I gave up with my search.

Thanks again.

PS: I have nanny experience and at first I was searching for some courses that would be useful for me as a nanny but I am also interested in working in a kindergarden so the link that you gave me is very helpful and I am very interested in!

4
You are very welcome princessduck I've got similar experience to yours, but moved here to work in bilingual school, now it's time to move up a little and the Teacher Assistant course was recommended to me.

I'm doing that course, so come and join hope they still have places left.

5
I will try to go to this course but I have to check (again) my finances.

I liked what I read on that website but the only thing I don't like is the fact that the course is only once a month and this will take 10 months to finish it.

I would like it more if it would be let's say, at least 2 times per month.

6
Bumping this thread- maybe someone can guide me a bit.

7
I can think of a few things, but is your 'end goal' to become a Kindergarten teacher ? If so, then a university degree may be required. However, to work as a 'childcare' or 'after school hours care' or 'teacher's assistant' there are other paths. The problem is that you will always be competing with people who are fully-qualified, or work-experience or trainees who are a lot cheaper than a full time mature 'assistant'.

It also depends what age you want to work with - Kindergarten in Zurich is about 4.5 years through to 6 years. Childcare may be 0-6, 0-4, or even smaller age groupings. In Switzerland it's common to have 'family groupings' so a mixed age group for children 0-4 years, and then Kindergarten, which requires a university-level trained teacher, from 4 years onwards.

Also, are you ultimately planning to teach in English, one of the local languages, or in another language ? Who would your potential employer be ? What do they require ?

A level 3 CACHE diploma probably wouldn't get you a 'trained teacher' position, but it might be perfect as a 'resume booster' for a nanny position. It might also be possible to start with the level 3 diploma in English, and then get your German (French, Italian) up to fluency to do the relevant diploma in Switzerland. In Zurich if you have 2 years full time experience working with children you can do the local diploma (In German) which is two years, studying one day per week and working under an approved supervisor in a childcare setting four days per week. But that still doesn't qualify you as a 'teacher' - but as a 'childcare worker'.

Hope that helps. I have a few colleagues who have done their diplomas via the open university UK. That would be my first option - you might be able to do some modules and see if it appeals to you. Ultimately, to work as a 'teacher' you need a university degree. Diplomas are for child care workers, not 'teachers'.

8
Swisspea- thank you very much for your answer!

First I want to clear out one thing- I don't want to be a teacher.

In fact, after opening this thread, I started doing my research and now I don't even know anymore what I want to be or what kind of work I want in childcare. The reason is that there are so many titles, courses, certificates and diplomas, which I don't fully understand. I found this website, which I think it is a very good info source but I think I am missing something because I am still confused.

http://www.berufsberatung.ch/dyn/1006.aspx

As I said in my first post- I have some experience with children but I have no formal qualification (my country didn't offer such thing at the time I was there, plus I want to do a course here in Switzerland) so I thought I could do some courses that could help my knowledge and my CV.

The Red Cross offer something I am interested in: http://www.srk-zuerich.ch/srk/Ich-will-lernen/Lehrgang-zur-Nanny/index.php but I didn't apply yet as I am not sure of some dates plus I can't afford it right now.

This centre http://www.bke.ch/tl/ # - this is if you want to study more and you are already working in a kindergarten or you are working with children (not as a nanny) so not for me (I'm an Au Pair).

For the moment, I want to work as a nanny. Though I am also open to other options: play groups, teacher's assistant etc. but I can't distinguish the Fachperson Betreuung, Fachrichtung Kinderbetreuung from Kinderzieherin as you have to study for a long time for both and they are both recognised but I don't know what is the difference between them.

It seems that in Switzerland you way too many of courses, titles, schools that are made for certain fields ( this is a very good thing) but if you have one diploma let's say, you can't work everywhere with it and this is normal as for example a nanny can't work with special needs children if she doen't have some courses or at least looots of experience but still way too many titles....? Maybe I can't explain this well but I hope you understand.

There are too many FH and HF titles and I am confused. Correct me if I am wrong, but HF is higher than FH right? So if I want to study something and get a diploma that allows me to work in more places then I will have to go to a HF.

My German is B2 level (I don't understand every single word from a text) and I want to go to an intensive course soon. My only chance here is to go for a course held in German anyway as English courses are only at the Uni and I am not interested in a Uni now. This offers me more chances of finding a course in the first place and then a job.

Thank you!

9
As a very quick start, I can recommend doing an up-to-date first aid course with the Samariters. I'm sure Red cross also offer first-aid courses that are very similar. I know the Samariters do a special 'first aid for babies and small children' course - around Zurich it's not hard to find the course offered in English, and it's not so expensive - maybe 100-200chf. If you haven't done a full first-aid course before, I recommend you do that plus the specialised baby/child one.

I think the training centre for Zurich canton apprentices in childcare is this one:

http://savoirsocial.ch/grundbildung-...ndbildung-fabe

If you have a look at the courses offered, it gives a better sense of how the spread of offerings. All in German.

It may be much quicker (and cheaper) to go to the UK and if you eligible join a government course rather than paying for a private college. That may then open the doors for you with families who want an english-speaking nanny.

Many nannies move into childcare centres and vice-versa. There are certainly pros and cons with working in either setting...I can recommend trying a stint of work experience in a childcare or preschool setting, to see if you enjoy the work and certainly to learn from other more-experienced childcarers.

10
I'd make an appointment at your local "Berufs- und Laufbahnberatung". There is on in Baden and one in Aarau (you live in the canton of Aargau, therefore you have to go there, not to Zurich). Look here: http://www.beratungsdienste-aargau.c...und-teams.html

Ask for "Laufbahnberatung" or "Laufbahn und Weiterbildung". They should know all the options and should be able to explain to you the differences between the various schools and so on... good luck!

11
There is a homepage which shows about every possibility. I looked for Kinderbetreuung in the cantons of Aargau and Zurich and got these results:

http://www.berufsberatung.ch/dyn/136...=&providertype =

12
Thank you for your response! At the moment I am living in Kanton Aargau because I am an Au Pair here but I want to move to Zurich in few months.

I could go to a Laufbahnberatung in Aarau or Baden to see what chances do I have . Thank you for the link!

13

Thanks!

As you can see I also posted this website and I looked everywhere BUT the Laufbahn! Thanks for the link. It is really helpful!

14
Hello Princessduck!

How are you getting on with the childcare things?

I am in the same boat, want to work in a child care facility, but don t know where to start...

Julia

15
Once again: The best advice is to get the info from the Berufs- und Laufbahnberatung. Call them, make an appointment and bring with you all your diplomas. www.berufsberatung.ch > Laufbahnberatung will help you.

Asking questions about qualifications etc. here on EF might be very handy, but somewhat theoretical and abstract. To get the "real" information, get out of the expat-surrounding and ask the local professionals.

Wishing you luck!

16
Hello Julia,

I didn't do anything yet in this matter as I had other things to take care of.

I am thinking to take the SRK (Red Cross) course: Lehrgang zur Nanny. It is a 8 days module and then you have to pass a test.

Just follow the links are on this thread and you will find something for you. Lots of useful info.

What do you have in mind: Kindergarten , Spielgruppe?

17
Hello every one,

I was searching and reading about courses in early childhood and came across this thread. I just want to know did anybody proceed with any of the above options?