Hi Guys
We will be relocating to Basel potentially in April and my employers will be putting us up in an apartment in Gundeli. I have a son who will turn 5 in March and I had a few questions re Kitas:
1) Are the kitas currently open or closed due to covid?
2) Should I look for a bilingual Kita specifically or just a German speaking one will do? My son does not speak German
3) Any suggestions for kitas in the area?
4) Is there a waiting list? how long does it take to get in?
Many thanks for your feedback
Hi
If your son is 5 (born March 2016) he will need to to go Kindergarten not Kita. Kita is creche and for smaller children. Kindergarten is mandatory and part of the school system and you will be allocated to a class close to you. You cant choose. Do some reading on the English Forum and the internet. There is a ton of information online.
Teachers are used to deal with children who don't speak German. He will learn quickly at that age. But you must be willing to learn as well as parents and be a good role-model. If you don't want that there is international schools (very expensive) or bilingual schools (less expensive but still expensive).
And for a slightly less aggressive response than the one above...
1. Kitas are open in Basel. As are schools. But given your son turns 5 in March he will indeed be due to attend kindergarten rather than Kita. My 4 yr old daughter will start KG in August - she turns 5 in October (Don’t worry if you’re relocating from London, KG1 is very much like nursery rather than Reception).
2. Have you been offered permanent accommodation or is this temporary while you find something permanent? Your kindergarten allocation will depend on where you live so if you’re planning on moving after a month or two then it makes sense to wait until you’ve found the permanent place before applying for the KG space. Also worth figuring out the wrap around care you might need as kindergarten will be 5 mornings and one afternoon for both years.
3. No I’m afraid as our youngster has been at a kita next to my office (Roche) and her older sister is at school in Binningen where we live.
4. Can I ask who you work for? We got some help from my work and it did make a difference when it came to sorting out the small people. You may well be due something similar.
5. You’d didn’t ask this exactly but for a soon to be five year old I would recommend the Swiss school system rather than international school. He’ll get strong support in developing language skills (and very likely won’t be the only kid without German at that age) plus make some friends for play dates and all that.
Basel is great, even with the current pandemic. Welcome in advance and DM me if you’ve got any more local questions.
@darkharlequin
Many thanks for your reassuring response.
We have been offered temporary accommodation for 3 months and then we will need to move. But since we will both work full time, it will be good to get the little one in KG
Do KG also provide wrap around care? Is there a long waiting list?
I work in medical devices. I have just emailed my HR to check what support they can provide. So thanks for the heads-up
For now we are inclined to put him through the Swiss school system since he is so young
Regards
I was in a hurry so my last messge was indeed rather curt.
But again (and I really mean it). You neeed to do some reading yourself. There is a ton of information online, also in English, on the English Forum and the internet.
You won't be able to send him to a creche (Kita). He needs to attend Kindergarten. Which one he will be allocated depends on where you live. The before and after care depends on the canton. Check for Basel Stadt. Can't help you with that but you will find that information. In Zurich he would attend a Hort. So start with that and Basel Stadt and you will find information.
Also also don't have time to elaborate now.