Draft. This text has not yet been reviewed.
Schooling is organised by each canton. In Vaud, compulsory schooling lasts 11 years, and children start once they have turned four by 31 July of that year. Public schools are free, and about nine in ten children in Vaud attend one.
Enrolling your child
Children are enrolled in the public school responsible for the area where you live. Register your arrival with your commune first, then contact the school (établissement scolaire) for your address. If your child joins part-way through the year, the school will arrange a meeting with you before they start.
The canton’s information leaflets for parents are translated into nine languages, including English.
If your children do not speak French
- Children aged 4 to 8 who do not speak French go to the primary school in their neighbourhood. After a welcome meeting with the parents, they join a regular class with intensive French lessons.
- Older children are placed, after a meeting with the parents, either in a reception class or in a regular class with intensive French.
- The canton explains the school system in several languages. See the sources below.
Childcare and after-school care
- Childcare for children under school age is organised through local childcare networks. Register with the network for the area where you live.
- Outside school hours, after-school care is also organised locally.
Private and international schools
Private and international schools exist alongside the public system. Admission rules differ, so contact the schools directly.
At Westlake
Children and youth join the main service at the start and are then released for their classes. We also run The Ark Playgroup. See our Children page for details.
Official sources
- Joining compulsory school, with translated leaflets for parents (State of Vaud)
- School in Lausanne (City of Lausanne)
- How compulsory schooling works in Vaud (State of Vaud, in French)
- Childcare networks in the canton of Vaud (Vaud Famille)
Last checked: 12 November 2026. This is general information only. Please check the official sources above before you act.