I am an EU citizin wanting to set up a home-based playgroup/creche in Geneva but with little knowledge of french, am finding it difficult to understand all the rules. As I will only initially have up to 6 children, do i still need to apply for permission and if so, who too? What insurance will I need to cover the children for any accidents and also what permit will i have to apply for and how do I go about doing this? Sorry so many questions but have no idea what I need to do. Also, is there a person I can hire to sort out the taxes i need to pay etc?
SOrry for million and one questions, really hope someone can help.

Geneva is probably the most restrictive place in Europe as far as setting up a crèche is concerned; regulations are exhaustive both in terms of construction standards and in terms of staff certification and organization.

A typical budget is about 30'000 CHF per place per year (the reason why many communes can't afford them).

I really hope you know what you're getting into.

Is this the case for a playgroup as well though? I only ask as I know of two brazilian girls with no qualifications who have set up a home based play-group in Geneva and seem to be doing well.

Everyone can do pretty much anything. The question is to which extent you wish to remain within the legal boundaries (which is probably helpful when tax and insurance are considered).

The cantonal framework is defined by law (J 6 29) and the corresponding application directives (J 6 29.01).

In short, you have to receive an approval given by the Youth Office (Office de la Jeunesse) which is a branch of the Youth Protection Services (SPJ). They require a blank conviction record, good knowledge of spoken french and proof of sufficient instruction (either a 20h course they give or anything judged to be equivalent). They will also visit your home and decide whether it is appropriate for kids (and how many). Finally they will also be giving you an evaluation interview.

Successful completion of the process equals issuance of a time-limited authorization to run a "play-group".

They might be "Tagesmütter" which is a certification that you can quite easily get from what I've heard and I think the regulations are not quite as firm as with actual playgroups.

EDIT: Here's a link to the organisation who certifies and controls "Tagesmütter"

Actually, they're one and the same with the one above.

That's the coordination agency, not the certification agency. Huge difference.

That post sums it up really nicely,well done shorrick, this is exactly what one needs to do in almost every canton, when wanting to set up a playgroup .

And it's similarly strict for wanting to be a TAGESMUTTER,(daycarer) for a child!!!
Even if you are related to said child,( grandmother or aunt) and the child stays more than a specific amount of hours with your every week, you will need a permission!!
It's not as easy as it sounds to be either a daycarer or run a playgroup and very strictly regulated!

Legally its very bad as a Business you can be sued for anything.

Privatly as a Tagesmutter its better, generally you can get Privathaftpflicht insurance to cover damages.

Doing it for private people you know would be best, I am searching for englisch speaking persons in Zürich Oberland to look after my kids.......

Wrong on both counts - there is practically no difference - as a private individual you can be sued and have less protection than a corporation. As a company you can arrange insurance against public liability and just about any eventuality.

On the topic of Day-cares, are there any legal requirements for child and carer ratio in a Day-care (depending upon the age group) ?

Is it possible that it is legal to leave a couple of 3 year old kids by themselves in a room (although for a short period) without any adult supervision in the same room?

There is no "legal ratio" as every day care is individually assessed and the number of kids allowed is influenced by several factors such as size, available equipments, number and experience of staff.

Are your kids at any moment under adult supervision at home?

The child care provider for my son says it is normal to leave the kids at age of 3 years alone for some time. But I am not really sure about it. I am constantly worried about his safety. May be I am being over protective, but in an instant 2 kids (similar age) beat up my son on his head with a toy and apparently there was no one in the room to stop them.

I feel, there is no point looking for a new child care provider if this practice of leaving kids unsupervised is normal in Switzerland. I am really confused.

I think that could happen at home as well, do you not? Unless you tie kids down, they are going to play, run, fall, beat themselves up, cry, make up and be best buddies all in one hour.

It's normal. It's called childhood.

In my son's nursery they limit the number of babies (under 12 months) to six babies and there are two adults supervising them all the time.

The other adults always have an eye on the rest of the kids (the oldest is about 2) and, up to now, everything has worked fine.

Leaving a couple of 3 year olds shouldn't be a problem for a few minutes so long as the room is child proof and they can't fall out of windows or stick stuff in the plug sockets for example.

Shorrick Mk2, Dear Sandgrounder...Thanks a lot for your replies. They help me to look at the things in right perspective.

Hi,

Just wondering if you ever did decide to set up a home-based playgroup? I would be interested in knowing more about it, I have a one year old, and we're looking for some kind of part time childcare or playgroup. Thanks!

I have read every response and didnt actually get the answers i was looking for!
Everyone seemed to disagree with what the other person said. Apart from Shorrick Mk2. I am living in Basel. Do you or anyone else know:-
Where I would actually have to register to run a day care from your house or suitable building?
What the legal requirements are in a building, for the staff etc?
Where can i get the relevant training and certificates needed to look after children in this country?
Where can i find out the fire regulations etc?
Is there a monitoring body in Switzerland? (Like social services in the UK)

Any helpful information is welcome

you will have to work out who the licensing authority is in your local area...

http://www.tagesfamilien.ch/

on the right hand side there is a map with all the areas marked.

the regulations are complex and extensive...even if you provide your services to english-speaking people, you definitely need to have the capability to comply with the regulations and do all the paperwork in an official language.

looking after kids is not a simple task, and covering yourself in case of a million things is a serious business...

I can't imagine there's much money to be made in such a business...

First of all you need to have a Krippenleiterindegree or equivalent or you will have to hire someone with such a degree. Second of all you have to apply for a permit with the appropriate authorities in your Gemeinde showing that you can fullfil all their requirements. Thirdly you have to run the krippe according to all the requirements that you agreed to when you got your permit.

Agreed. A couple of years back, I looked into setting up a private school teaching both english-speaking and swiss children I wanted to use my own home and set up a classroom separate from the main house with it's own entrance. Talking to a lawyer stopped me in my tracks, I realised how difficult and mind-boggling all the rules are. However, it wasn't the reems of paper work that put an end to my plans but the fact that if a parent had an accident while dropping their kids off on my premises and sued me for loss of earnings, I could loose everything. You need excellent insurance cover and have the capital to set up a registered limited company and for me it wasn't worth it for such a small business. If I were to set something up again it would be for a bigger business with more people involved.

If you want to find answers to your questions you should ask a lawyer and you will also get info regarding the rules from your local Gemeinde or commune.