HI

A friend of mine has recently been offered a position with a nursery/kindergarten Switzerland. Whilst she is suitably experienced at looking after kids, she has no formal childcare qualifications.

When she told me about her new job, I was very pleased for her. But as a mother, I was rather concerned about the employment process of the nursery. All she did to get the job was simply phone up, visit and was immediately offered the job.

No back ground checks, no reference checks, no criminal record check. Simply do you speak English well enough.

I don't use the services of a nursery in Switzerland, but in France where I live they are quite thorough. Although you can never be 100% sure of anyone, there should be some basic checks required by law. I would be surprised if this was also not the case in Switzerland.

I wonder if it is one of the 'standard' Swiss kingergartens. I know that some of the private, international schools do not have to be so strict on adhering to teacher qualifications. I assume it's because they are privately run? Maybe it is the same at this daycare that requires English? (Also, is it a daycare, or a playgroup?)

All the teachers were certified at the local Tagesheims that we've looked at. Also, the teachers have to go through an apprenticeship before they can become teachers.

But, thanks for bringing this up. Inspires me to confirm the actual legal guidelines and re-post if I find anything.

It's not so much the childcare qualifications I would worry about, but who someone is and where they are from. No reference checks or crimina background is very worrying, especially when dealing with the most precious things in the world.....your kids.

Reference checks and criminal records are not requested in all countries. Actually in France, reference checks are not used and I've never had to provide a criminal record. Actually, it 's quite often that a teacher or a Head who did something bad in one school, will just be relocated in another school..The procedures are different according to the countries so I don't find it shocking that reference or criminal records are not requested. But the qualification yes, CVs showing experience and qualifications as well as certified copies of diplomas should be a minimum.

My child minder in france is constantly monitored by the authorities she has had home checks and it has been compulsory for her to attend courses, she is not certified to look after children until she has that.

Maybe it's not law for criminal checks in Switzerland, but how do you know that the person looking after your kids is not a convicted criminal or worse?

Just something to bear in mind when choosing a nursery.

I work at the airport, and I have had to provide criminal checks.

If your friend is unqualified then I would presume that the position she is going to be employed as is one of an assistant. People in such a position in nurseries are not allowed to be in sole charge of the children, only qualified people are so I doubt she would be considered a danger to the children if never left alone with them. In Switzerland (KT Zurich for sure) there are strict rules about the hiring of staff in a nursery with regard to qualifications & ratios of carers to children.

It's Basel. And there have been no checks, at all. I don't want to worry people, simply just open a subject matter that I feel warrants further clarification

I agree, there was an incident at the childcare place I used for my daughter where there were allegations of a member of staff interfering with a child! Turns out the member of staff in question was a friend of the boss so had had no checks, experience etc etc.

I agree. It may be that an assistant is not permitted to look after the children alone. But in practice is this always the case?. I would not want anyone looking after my child who had not been checked out properly.

My friend was not even asked to provide a CV......scary.

While these sort of incidents do happen we have to remember that they are incredibly rare. We as parents have to keep things in perspective and realise that the vast majority of the places we leave our children are safe and take great care of our kids. Ask questions of the staff or boss of your kids nursery instead of speculating or giving into unfounded fear.

I work in Geneva and teach kids once a week. The cantonal government required me to show a clean criminal record in order to do so. Also, maybe because I'm non-EU, I had to do an international criminal record check when I immigrated here. So, perhaps your friend has been checked out, or will be when her employment is announced to the canton.

Even if there are checks, you still don't know that the carer isn't simply and abuser who hasn't been caught yet. I don't think not having criminal checks is a great risk, nor do I think having criminal checks will greatly reduce risk (if at all).

[QUOTE=Fidgety;1164491]HI
criminal record check.


In order for migration to give you a permission, specially if it involves being able to work in CH, they ask those things. They check you very well with all the papers they ask you and you also need to provide criminal recod, so maybe since she is a foreing and had to go trough that process they dont find it necessary to go trough that again. Thats just my thought and I dont remember if you said it but im assuming she is foreign. I will be more worried if they hire black working, but someone with the permit, i think they feel migration took care of that already. I mean Im married withh a swiss, have 2 swiss kids and im still waiting for my permit because my country hasnt send me my criminal record.Burocracy blah!

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In Australia ( or rather state of Queensland ), they have the Blue Card as part of their Risk Management Strategy, required even for voluntary assignments so long as it involves children.

http://www.ccypcg.qld.gov.au/employment/

I had to do that criminal record check too as part of my application for a visa.

After reading all your comments on this subject i would say that i am in favour of criminal checks being done on kindergarden workers and child minders, in england these checks are done all the time. Its true that you can never be to careful when it comes to children as these little people are such an easy target for the sick people that are amongst us. I am a nurse by profession and i was always having to have criminal checks done.

The private centres DO have to adhere to the same regulations as the public ones, in regards to qualification s and staffing ratios - at least they do in Baselstadt. It's part of the ongoing licencing requirments, complete with Inspectors making visits to the centres.

Sounds a bit odd for Switzerland where you normally are asked for every bit of paper back to your 25m swimming certificate when applying for even a part-time waitressing job.

Has your friend actually started this job yet? Maybe they'll ask her for her full info once she starts.

Also one more thing. You said in your first post that your friend has recently been offered a position with a nursery/kindergarten Switzerland

Are you sure its a teaching position? Maybe it has to do with something else that has nothing to do with teaching kids. Im asking just because i agree with you that this is a bit strange...

well, i can attest it certainly does happen. there is a place in vaud that hired someone i know for a english childcare postition in a private preschool- experience and background check was done, but she started work before the results were sent and althought there are ratios, i know she had said there were times she was alone with the preschool kids because someone else was sick or the owner came late, within the first two weeks of her starting the job there!
after hearing her stories, i think if i had to put a child in a preschool here, i would make numerous and spontaneous visits often and really pay close attention to what goes on when i am around, i agree they are our most precious and as with any service you pay for if they say there is a 4 kids to adult ratio or whatever else, then that needs to be always- no exceptions...

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