Getting to school

On the main roads around most primary schools, school patrol help children cross the road.

As part of the Pedibus association, volunteer parents take it in turns to accompany a group of children on foot to school.

List of operational Pedibus lines

After school care and school canteens

In most primary schools in the canton of Geneva, children can be looked after during the lunch break from 11:30 to 13:30 and after school from 16:00 to 18:00.

In some schools, morning care from 07:00 to 08:00 is organized for pupils in the first four grades.

The GIAP (Groupement Intercommunal d’animation parascolaire – web site in French only) is responsible for supervising the children and providing entertainment. They serve a snack at 16:00.

The GIAP charges for this service.

Lunch is billed separately by the school canteen.

If you are arriving from another country/canton, you must clearly mention this to the GIAP, otherwise your registration may be refused.

For more information :
https://www.geneve.ch/en/themes/childcare-structures-extracurricular-activities/childcare-structures-extracurricular-activities

Some schools offer supervised homework. This means that after 4:00 p.m., students are welcomed into a classroom to do their homework under the supervision of a teacher.

Find out more when you register with the school management.

Unfortunately, many schools in the 12-15 age group (cycle d’orientation in French) do not offer lunchtime care. Some offer partial lunchtime care. Please contact the school secretariat for details.

Schools for students aged 15 and over generally have cafeterias.

Wednesday and vacation activities

See also the Leisure, sport and culture page.

On Wednesdays and during the vacations, the community centres and recreational facilities offer daytime activities.

Vacation activities: search engine (in French)

This search engine also includes a database for activities during the school year.

A number of private schools offer full-day vacation activities (bilingual), in particular the Ecole international and Institut International de Lancy.

For children aged 10 to 15: Passeport vacances (limited number of places available). Web site in French only.

For young people aged 11 to 17 there are free welcome and water sports activities at Versoix beach during the summer: https://greve-nautique.ch/. (web site in French only)

Jardin Robinson :

Free (or almost free) after-school care for children aged 6-12 in certain neighborhoods during the school vacations. The  below web sites are in French only.

Meyrin: https://jrmeyrin.ch/
Vernier / Lignon : https://jrlignon.ch/
Onex : https://jronex.ch/
Avully and surrounding area: https://jrcravully.ch/
Lancy – Voirets : https://talv.ch/le-talv/
Plan-les-ouates : https://japlo.ch/
Chatelaine – Balexert : https://www.mqjrchabal.com/