Answers to the most frequent questions relating to registering a child in an early childhood daycare structure in the City of Geneva.
An online procedure enables you to enrol your child for a form of childcare.
Parents are invited to visit the BIPE offices located at 8 rue du Cendrier, Tuesdays from 8.30 a.m. to midday and Thursdays from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., by appointment via Agenda.ch. Families can also contact the Early Childhood Information Office via the hotline on 022 418 81 81, from 10 a.m. to midday, every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, or by e-mail: @email.
I work in the City of Geneva but live in a different municipality within the canton: am I entitled to register for a place in the early childhood daycare structures subsidised by the City of Geneva?
My child attends an early childhood daycare structure (SAPE) operated by the City of Geneva and I am pregnant: what must I do to ensure that my baby is also allocated a place?
I complete an application file to register my future baby with the Early Childhood Information Office (BIPE).
- Registering your child for a place in an early childcare structure
- Allocation criteria for a place in an early childcare structure
How are the childcare prices determined? And if one parent works in an international organisation but the other doesn’t, which price schedule applies?
Why do early childhood daycare structures adopt the same schedule as schools (new school year at end of August)?
In early childhood daycare structures, the children are divided into groups according to their age on 31 July. When school starts, children who have reached school age leave to go to school and the other children move up an age group, freeing places in the youngest group.
I was not allocated a place for my baby. Will he/she be given priority next school year?
No, as the children already accepted in the childcare structure keep their places. However, in the event of a departure, each place that becomes vacant is filled and my application can be passed on.
My neighbours were allocated a place and I wasn’t. What are the allocation criteria for a place in the early childhood daycare structures subsidised by the City of Geneva?
Being allocated a place depends on the departure of a child enrolled in a childcare structure and the profile of the place that has become vacant. Different elements are taken into consideration when allocating places (professional situation of the parents, date when the application was originally submitted, age, district of residence, type of subscription requested).
l have been told that the chances of obtaining a place increase if I actually visit the early childhood daycare structure (SAPE) in which I want to enrol my child and ask for a meeting with the director. Is this true?
No, there is a single waiting list and the early childhood daycare structure directors work in collaboration with the Early Childhood Information Office (BIPE).
I am a single mother. Are single-parent families given priority in obtaining a place?
No. The directors of the early childhood daycare structures are fully aware of the different family situations while ensuring the diversity and balance of the children accepted in early childhood daycare structures.
I am on the waiting list for places for twins/triplets. Am I given priority?
No. The directors of the early childhood daycare structures are fully aware of the different family situations while ensuring the diversity and balance of the children accepted in early childhood daycare structures.
What is the City of Geneva doing to develop the early childhood sector, and in particular to increase the number of nursery places available significantly?
The City of Geneva invests almost one hundred million Swiss francs a year to increase the number of places available and improve the early childhood daycare service.
My child suffers from an acknowledged handicap. Can he/she by enrolled in an early childhood daycare structure?
Yes, the early childhood daycare structures make every effort to integrate children with special needs.
My child has been enrolled in an early childhood daycare structure for one year. We have just moved to another district. Is he/she entitled to keep their place?
Yes, if you still live in the City of Geneva. If you wish to be included on the waiting list for a structure in your new district of residence, you must reactivate your application with the Early Childhood Information Office (BIPE).
What are the different daycare centres provided by the City?
What are the opening times of an early childhood daycare structure?
The opening times vary according to the type of structure.
I have not reactivated my application every six months. What will happen?
The application is cancelled. You must submit a new application to the Early Childhood Information Office (BIPE) in order to reactivate your application. The length of time your application has been in the system starts again from your new application.
I am on the waiting list for a childcare place and I am moving to another district within the City of Geneva. What happens?
I notify the Early Childhood Information Office (BIPE) of my new address and ask to be placed on the waiting list for a childcare structure in my new district, retaining the initial date of application.
I am on the waiting list for a childcare place and I am moving to another municipality. What happens?
I must find a childcare structure in my new municipality of residence and I cannot maintain my application with the Early Childhood Information Office (BIPE). However, if I work in the City of Geneva, I can maintain my application for a place close to my place work but I am not given priority over the inhabitants of the City of Geneva.
Do I have more chance of obtaining a place if I submit an application for five days a week (100%)?
No, absolutely not. The application must correspond to the parents’ real needs.
I am at home but I would like my child to attend an early childhood daycare structure so that he/she learns to socialise. Can I obtain a place?
Places in nurseries or early learning centres are first and foremost allocated to active parents (exercising a professional activity, actively looking for work or undergoing training).
The places which could be offered to parents not in these situations will only be part-time enrolment or kindergartens.
Article modifié le 25.03.2024 à 08:55