Kindergarden Entry Age + After School Care - Single Mother

Family, Education, Health and Pets
1
Hello,

I will be moving to Geneva next year, Aug 2016. My daughter was born on Aug 7, 2011 (turning 5 next year) therefore I believe she will miss the cut off date of July 31 for kindergarden by just 7 days. I am a single mother and I will be first studying French full-time at Universite of Geneva and then working and studying after about 6 months so I will be very busy. (I already have a university education and career, this is just for my own personal interests and o better integrate, planning on staying in Geneva for life).

Can you help me answer few questions

1) How likely would it be that the school will allow her to enroll in kindergarden rightaway even though she technically misses the cut off date? I heard that if I push for integration, they'll be more flexible. True? She would have 2 years of French-English pre-school in San Francisco, USA under her belt by that point so she has some French background. Does this help or hinder my case?

2) If she is allowed to enroll, what are the options for after school care? I understand that school would only go until lunch, but what are the costs to keep her there for the full day through lunch and after until about 5pm?

3) Worse case scenario if she is not allowed to enroll in kindergarden and has to do pre-school. Is there any state pre-schools or subsidies? I'll be living off savings the first year to give myself time for French studies so income will be minimal.

Thanks in advance!

2
Move to Ticino, the cut-off date here is Dec. 31

Tom

3
I think I'm getting myself confused now actually. I think kids start school at age 4 if turn by July 31 so she would technically be the oldest in her class (year 1) then so I think all is good as far as kindergarden entry, but the other questions regarding after school costs still stand.

4

Um, didn’t you already ask this question 3 years ago?

Enrolling August child in school this year

Btw, your daughter was 4 then so how can she be only 5 now? Or perhaps she was only 2 as you stated in this thread around the same time.

Childcare/Education France vs Swizerland (Geneva)

And how are you expecting to be able to work here? As a non-EU national it’s very difficult to get a job here. If you have EU nationality too or can claim one through ancestry it will make your life much easier, but you need to do this before you make the move.

Have you also considered the US tax implications? If you are an American citizen you’re required to continue to file US tax returns no matter where you live in the world and could also end up owing the US tax on top of your Swiss ones.

http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Inter…-Aliens-Abroad

To open any account here you will need to sign a W-9 form to allow said bank to send the account info on to the IRS and if the amount in any account/s comes to more than $10,000 at any time of the year it will also need to be reported on an FBAR form.