I have went through several threads posted about schools and looked at the links but noticed that most of the schools are in or near Zurich.
I am relocating with my family to Basel, Switzerland in March and am looking for a German speaking preschool that offers part-time programs for a 3 year old. He only speaks English but we want to put him in a German speaking preschool so he can integrate into the state system when he starts kindergarten. Most of the international schools only offer full day programs and are very expensive. Unfortunately, with the relocation he is not a company sponsored child. Does anybody have any suggestions/recommendations on schools in Basel?
If you are going "local" - and good for you if you are - then there are plenty of kinderkrippe that cater for children aged less than 5. Please note that you will have to pay for these, however, the Swiss system is geared up to local schooling, so there will doubtless be one or several within a few km of wherever you land.
Compulsory schooling doesn't start here until age 4/5, with primary school from 6/7 onwards. So basically children do 2 years of compulsory (free) kindergarten, before going to primary school.
If you plan on being here a while, then certainly your child will adapt quickly to German - more so if you "immerse" her in a German-speaking kinderkrippe.
This link may help you. The Basel authorities are keen to promote integration of children into the "standard" schooling system.
Good luck.
THe laws vary between cantons, but in Baselstadt, kindergarten is compulsory for the two years before "school" begins. That means for children to be starting kg in the AUgust of the year in which they have turned four by April of that year. Before that, you should be able to find part time placements as it is noncompulsory and {preschool{ is really another name for a childcare centre. I know there is one in Bottingen that takes part timers. Perhaps someone else can give more details. Also, it seems that you can live in Baselstadt, but have your child go to kg outside the stadt, part time, to be able to enjoy having your child at home for more hours (or so I was told by an expat parent who is doing that.)
If you want to start your child in March, I would look either for a part-time spot at a Kinderkrippe or consider a full-time spot at the Swiss International School (which is bilingual). We found that the full-time Spot at the SIS (8:30-3pm Mo,Tu,Th,Fri & 8:30-12 We) actually cost us LESS than the part-time spot at the Kinderkrippe (where we had access to full-day care 8:30-6 3 days per week).
For us, we also considered it an advantage that the SIS teaches in High German (not Swiss German) but this may not be important to you if you plan on staying in Switzerland and sending your child to the public kindergarten.
Hello,
The Gymboree in Basel offers bilingual Preschool Play groups every morning. I sat in on part of a class recently and I was impressed. (They have a group for 2-3 year olds and another for 4-5)
http://www.gymboreedach.com/en/location-basel.html
Good luck with your move to Basel!