Child Care

Education system in Ticino

In Ticino mandatory education starts at age 4, and ends at 11 years.

More precisely, the Cantonal school system includes 2 years of compulsory kindergarten (with one optional year starting at age 3), 5 years of elementary school and 4 years of middle school. 

More information are available here or on the following website (in Italian). 

• USI SUPSInido

Starting from January 2021, USI provide its own nursery a the East Campus Lugano-Viganello.
USI SUPSInido welcome a maximum of 23 children, and the children of USI and SUPSI staff and students are admitted as priority. For information about fees and the enrolment procedure, please contact the Equal Opportunities Service.

USI SUPSInido manager: Miryam Pol
Phone: +41 058 666 69 05
Email: [email protected]

• Reserved places Mendrisio

USI does not have a nursery service in the Mendrisio Campus. For the members of its community, 3 places are reserved in the public nurseries of Mendrisio.
The Equal Opportunities Service is available to provide more information concerning the placement of children of members of the USI communities in nurseries, and/or concerning further opportunities for improving the work/life balance.

• Activities during the school holidays

The Equal Opportunities Service organizes regularly activities during the school holidays for children of members of the USI community. For more information, visit our Events page.

• Baby Pit Stop

USI offers to parents special rooms for breastfeeding and preparation of infant formula, as well as practical services for childcare within the campus (changing tables, high chairs, etc.). For information on these services, contact the Equal Opportunities Service.

• Back-up Care

Specific services to meet the needs of parents, especially in the case of particular problems, such as child illness, are available in Ticino. These services can provide medical or materials aid based on the child and family needs.

More precisely, the Croce Rossa Svizzera in Lugano offers the following services:

• Baby Help, at home, in the case of children' sickness (age: from 0 to 12 years). The service include rapid interventions, and it is of limited duration.
• Mamy Help, at home, in case of parents are ill and temporarily unable to take care of their children.
• Baby Sitting during the day, at home, in the case of parent to be absent for a few hours or for a day.
• Baby Sitting during the evening, at home.