Bern, the de facto capital of Switzerland, offers a well-structured and inclusive early childhood education system. Kindergarten (“Kindergarten” in German-speaking regions) begins at age four and is mandatory for two years prior to entering primary school ([Reference 1]).
Bern follows the “Lehrplan 21” ([Reference 2]), which emphasizes balanced development in language, mathematics, social competence, creativity, and early scientific thinking, primarily through play and exploration.
Given Bern’s role as a federal city with a multilingual environment, language integration support (“DaZ” – Deutsch als Zweitsprache) is widely available for non-German-speaking children ([Reference 3]).
The city also places a strong emphasis on inclusive education: children with special educational needs are integrated into mainstream kindergartens with individualized support plans, ensuring that diversity is embraced from the earliest stages of education.
As a kindergarten director, I see Bern’s approach as a shining example of how structure, inclusiveness, and respect for every child’s unique background and pace can be harmonized, creating a truly supportive and future-oriented early learning environment.

References:

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

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

• [3] Canton of Bern: Language Support Programs (DaZ)