Zurich kindergarten, schools, confused!

Family, Education, Health and Pets
1
Hi all. I am considering moving to Zurich. I have a 3 year old and a 7 year old. We are now based in Berlin where kitas and schools are for free and very straightforward. I read different information regarding the situation in Zurich and am now very confused regarding what I would have to pay, and what the state must provide. Questions:

Do I pay for kindergarten? If so, until what age? Is it correct that from the age of 4 kindergarten is for free? School – is it the whole day? Do we pay for half a day? Is there something like the ‘hort’? If so, what is the cost?

Huge thanks in advance!

2
Welcome to the forum.

As a start, have a look around here?

https://www.englishforum.ch/educatio...itzerland.html

https://www.englishforum.ch/education/

3
1. Neither you pay for public kindergarten nor public school. Kindergarten entry depends on the age.

Date of birth Admittance to the kindergarten

01.08.2015 to 31.07.2016 17th of August 2020

01.08.2016 to 31.07.2017 23rd of August 2021

01.08.2017 to 31.07.2018 22nd of August 2022

01.08.2018 to 31.07.2019 21st of August 2023

Timetable

5 mornings per week (1st and 2nd year of kindergarten)

Drop-off time: 8.15 - 8.35 a.m.

Lessons: 8.35 - 11.55 a.m.

2 afternoons per week (only 2nd year of kindergarten)

Drop-off time: 1.40 p.m. - 1.50 p.m.

Lessons: 1.50 p.m. - 3.20 p.m.

https://www.stadt-zuerich.ch/ssd/en/...html#timetable

2. Hort cost is dependent on the family income level.

https://www.stadt-zuerich.ch/ssd/de/...te/kosten.html

4
I looked up at the maximum tariff of Hort https://www.stadt-zuerich.ch/ssd/de/...te/kosten.html

Calculation for 1 child assuming you would be working full-time and paying maximum tariff.

Breakfast per day: CHF 3.00

Lunch per day: CHF 33.00

Afternoon per day: CHF 40.00

Total per day: CHF 76.00

Total per week: 76.00 x 5 = CHF 380.00

Total per month: 380.00 x 4.2 = CHF 1596.00

During holidays: CHF 105.00 per day

Beware there are around 13 weeks of school holidays but full-time employee gets only 4-5 weeks of holidays per year.

https://www.stadt-zuerich.ch/ssd/de/...hulferien.html

5
One interesting project "Tagesschule 2025" currently ongoing where: On days with afternoon classes, students stay at school for lunch. These lunches are part of the “bound” time. The students receive a warm, balanced meal and are looked after by qualified specialist staff. Parents pay a flat rate of CHF 6 per noon. The schools offer free and voluntary work hours.

https://www.stadt-zuerich.ch/ssd/de/...formation.html

It's already implemented at some schools of Canton Zurich and others will implement it before 2025. If you find apartment close to the schools where it's already implemented, may reduce cost a bit for you.