Nursery in St. Gallen: fees, subsidies and procedure (cross-border guide)

Context

In a nutshell

• Extra-family childcare: federal and cantonal theme
• Nurseries, day families and afterschool fall within the cantonal competences
• Nursery rates vary and follow local logic
• Cantonal and municipal subsidies: differentiated framework from canton to canton

Key facts

• What: Childcare in the Canton of St. Gallen: kindergartens, day families, after-school, income-based fees and available cantonal subsidies.
• When: Not yet specified
• Where: Canton of St. Gallen, Switzerland
• Who: Resident families, custodial facility managers, cantonal and municipal authorities
• Amount: Fees and subsidy amounts are not specified in the source
• Framework: The Confederation sets the guidelines; the Cantons organise the offer
• Reference: Day families, kindergartens and after-school are mentioned as components of the care system

In Switzerland, extra-familial childcare is regulated at the cantonal level, albeit within the framework of the Federal Law on Financial Aid for Family Supplementary Childcare (LAF), which since 2023 supports the Cantons that increase subsidies to reduce costs borne by parents. The Canton of St. Gallen is among those that have progressively expanded the offer of nurseries, day families and para-school facilities to meet the demand of working families.

The structure of the case is divided into three main pillars,

Operational details

# How kindergarten fees are determined

One of the hallmarks of the Swiss system is the link between kindergarten fees and family income. In general, the facilities apply a fee calculated on a scale that takes into account the taxable income of the parents and the number of children received, as well as the employment rate of the place. This model, adopted in many Cantons, aims to make custody accessible also to families with medium-low incomes, containing the expense borne by the nucleus.

When the Canton or Municipality intervenes with subsidies, the fee actually paid by the family may be significantly reduced. The criteria for access to benefits — income threshold, core components, parental work activity — are defined at the local level. For this reason, the same structure may apply very different rates depending on the economic situation of the family and the public support received.

Daytime and after-school families: operational differences

Day families represent an alternative to traditional daycare, with often lower costs and greater flexibility of hours. Their operation is based on cantonal accreditations and on direct agreements between the daytime family and the parents, with hourly or daily rates. Also in this case, public subsidies, when provided for, can reduce spending.

After-school courses, intended for school-age children, follow the logic

Recommended tools

For an updated estimate, use the net salary calculator and the CHF-EUR exchange comparator.

Key points

Step-by-step procedure for families

Families interested in a place in a nursery or an after-school facility in the Canton of St. Gallen can follow a process divided into several stages.

The first step is to survey the available facilities in the municipality of residence, consulting the official websites and the lists published by the cantonal services. Many municipalities publish an updated list of accredited nurseries, day families and after-school programmes, with indications on hours, age groups and indicative costs.

The second step is the admission application, which must be submitted directly to the chosen facility. It is advisable to start the search well in advance of the desired start date, because available places, especially in urban areas, may require waiting lists of several months.

The third step concerns the verification of subsidies. Families who believe they are entitled to a public contribution for childcare must contact the relevant services to obtain information on requirements, necessary documentation and payment times. The subsidy application, as a rule, must be submitted before the start of childcare or in any case within the deadlines set by the Canton or the municipality.

Useful documents and information

For the subsidy application, the following are generally required: proof of taxable income (recent tax assessment), composition of the household, confirmation of the place in the facility, proof of the parents' employment. Timelines and forms vary depending on the municipality.

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