Nursery and childcare in the Canton of Graubünden

Context

In brief

• Three main options: daycare, family daycare, after-school care
• Fees calculated based on the family's gross income according to cantonal scales
• Cantonal subsidies available for families below defined income limits
• Access through the cantonal family office and direct registration with the facilities

Key facts

• What: Childcare services for preschool and school-age children (daycare, family daycare, after-school care)
• Where: Canton of Graubünden and other Swiss cantons
• Who: Authorized public/private facilities, specialized educators, cantonal welfare offices
• Amount: Variable monthly fees per canton and facility (income-based fee scale)
• Access: Contact cantonal office, submit income documentation, direct registration

Finding reliable childcare during working hours is a concrete priority for Swiss families. In the Canton of Graubünden, as in other cantons, the available options are diverse: daycare for the youngest, family daycare with private educators, and after-school care for school-age children. A central element is that the fees do not follow a fixed rate but are calculated based on the family's gross income, with public subsidy systems designed to make access to services more equitable.

Understanding how these services work, identifying real costs, and accessing cantonal contributions can make a significant difference in the household budget. A family with two incomes does not bear the same economic burden as a single-income family, and in many cases, public subsidies cover a significant portion of the monthly fee.

The three main childcare options

In the Canton of Graubünden, three main categories of childcare services are distinguished.

Daycare: Authorized public or private facilities that welcome children from the end of parental leave (typically from three months) until they start kindergarten. Daycare centers provide a structured environment with specialized educators, dedicated spaces, play activities, and meals. Standard hours are from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM, with variations depending on the facility and calendar.

Family daycare: Children are entrusted to the home of a registered and authorized educator (institutions known as dagheimerin or dagos in local dialect). This option offers greater flexibility in hours and generally accommodates fewer children than collective daycare centers. Family daycare providers must comply with cantonal standards for training and safety.

After-school care: Services for children attending primary school, operating from 11:30 AM/12:00 PM to approximately 6:00 PM on school days. They include lunch, supervised homework, recreational activities, and supervision.

How fees are calculated

Fees are not uniform but vary directly with the family's gross income. This principle, common to almost all Swiss cantons, aims to ensure equity in access to public services. A family with an annual gross income of CHF 40,000 bears a much lower cost than a family with CHF 120,000.

The calculation is made using a cantonal fee scale that considers the declared gross income, the composition of the family unit (number of children in care, number of working parents), and sometimes the movable or immovable assets. The result is a percentage of the daily or monthly cost that the family must pay directly.

In the most transparent systems, the facility provides an online preliminary simulation: a family enters their income in a form and receives an indication of the net monthly fee (already net of subsidies, if eligible) before signing the contract.

Operational details

Cantonal subsidies and family support

In addition to income-based fees, the Canton of Graubünden, like most Swiss cantons, provides direct subsidies for families whose income falls below certain levels or who have documented special needs.

The subsidy covers a variable percentage at the cantonal level: in some cases from 30 to 50% of the fee, in others up to 100% for the most vulnerable families. Access requires the submission of the most recent tax return and any other documents attesting to income (pay slips, statements from pension funds, self-employed declarations). The canton evaluates the request and, if approved, communicates the monthly contribution to the parent, who applies it directly to the facility's invoice.

This system allows many families to access childcare services that would otherwise be prohibitively expensive. Where a couple of teachers might benefit from a modest subsidy, a single-income family with an average income receives a more substantial contribution.

Practical scenarios: how real costs vary

The difference between a single-income family and a dual-income family is significant.

Case 1 — Single-income family: One working parent (gross income CHF 50,000/year) and a two-year-old child. The childcare facility offers a base fee of CHF 1,800 per month. According to the cantonal income scale, the family pays 35% of the fee (CHF 630), while the cantonal subsidy covers the remaining 65% (CHF 1,170). The net cost is CHF 630 per month, or one-third of the nominal fee.

Case 2 — Dual-income couple: Both parents work with combined incomes of CHF 140,000/year and a three-year-old child in daycare. The base fee remains CHF 1,800, but they do not qualify for public subsidies (income above eligibility limits). They pay the full fee: CHF 1,800 per month. In this context, the cost is almost three times higher than in Case 1.

Case 3 — Single-income family with two children: One parent (CHF 35,000/year) with two children, one in daycare and one in after-school care. The total fee for both facilities is CHF 2,500 per month. With cantonal subsidies and a favorable fee scale for low-income families, the family pays CHF 400 (16% of the expense), and the canton covers the remaining CHF 2,100.

These scenarios illustrate how the system is structured to not exclude lower-income families and to significantly reduce the burden on single-income families, while maintaining shared economic responsibility.

Factors influencing the choice of facility

In addition to cost, families consider extended opening hours (some facilities remain open until 19:00 or 20:00 for parents with shifts), geographical location relative to the workplace, pedagogical orientation (Montessori method, Waldorf approach, traditional proposal), educator-child ratio, and availability of spots. Some facilities accept children with specific needs (documented allergies, inclusive support for disabilities); others do not. Finding the ideal facility requires time and the evaluation of multiple criteria simultaneously.

A practical tip: contact the cantonal office for a complete and up-to-date list of all authorized facilities in your district; many cantonal administrations also offer a brief description of their distinctive features.

Useful tools to protect your net income

To reduce FX leakage, compare CHF-EUR exchange options and banks for cross-border workers.

Key points

How to search for a custodial facility in the Canton of Graubün

The first recommended step is to contact the relevant cantonal office — usually the Social Service Office, the Family Office or the equivalent welfare office. This body keeps an up-to-date register of all public and private services authorised in the canton, with information on availability, timetables, teaching languages (Graubünden is characterised by mainly German-speaking areas, but also includes Romance and Italian areas), and available staff.

The cantonal office also provides detailed guidance on how to access benefits and what documentation to submit. Although it is not mandatory to contact this entity, it is highly recommended to do so before undertaking independent research, as it avoids unproductive research and clarifies your eligibility for public contributions immediately.

# Step-by-step access to services and benefits

1. Contact the cantonal family office: Ask for the official register of licensed facilities in your district and find out right away about what subsidies might be available for your household. You'll often find that you're eligible for a more generous contribution than you initially thought.

2. Collect income documentation : Prepare the most recent tax return, payroll for the last three months, and income certificates if you are self-employed. Some cantons also require a copy of

First day as a cross-border worker? Our practical guide walks you from cantonal registration to your first paycheck.

Official sources: Working-time rules (SECO)