Basel, located at the intersection of Switzerland, Germany, and France, offers a unique trilingual and culturally rich approach to early childhood education. Kindergarten (“Kindergarten”) typically begins at age four and is compulsory for two years before primary school ([Reference 1]).
Basel-Stadt follows the “Lehrplan 21” ([Reference 2]), emphasizing play-based learning, early language development, basic numeracy, social skills, and cultural awareness.
Given Basel’s proximity to neighboring countries and its international business profile, there is a strong commitment to multilingualism. German is the primary language of instruction, but French and English exposure is increasingly common. Support for non-German-speaking children is provided through specialized “DaZ” (Deutsch als Zweitsprache) programs ([Reference 3]).
Basel also prioritizes inclusive education, ensuring that children with additional needs are integrated with appropriate support into mainstream settings, aligning with Switzerland’s commitment to inclusive schooling.
As a kindergarten director, I admire Basel’s model—a structured yet open environment where linguistic diversity, early socialization, and academic foundations are nurtured harmoniously from the earliest stages of learning.

References:

• [1] Swiss Conference of Cantonal Ministers of Education (EDK): Kindergarten Requirements

• [2] Lehrplan 21: Curriculum for German-Speaking Switzerland

• [3] Canton Basel-Stadt Education Department: Language and Integration Support Programs