Schools & childcare in Lausanne

The school office (SEP) at Place Chauderon 9, fifth floor, takes enrolments from 08:00 to 11:30 and 13:00 to 16:00, preferably on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and gives appointments on +41 21 315 64 37; Lausanne's public schools form fifteen establishments in 42 buildings (lausanne.ch, checked 21 Oct 2026). Children born between 1 August 2022 and 31 July 2023 start school in August 2027 (Canton of Vaud, checked 21 Oct 2026). Vaud leaves no free choice of public school, since pupils attend the school of their parents' domicile, and a child domiciled in France cannot be schooled in the canton (Canton of Vaud, checked 21 Oct 2026). The school year has 38 weeks and at least 186 school days (Canton of Vaud, checked 21 Oct 2026).

Pupils who do not speak French can receive support lessons, intensive French, integration groups or integration classes (Canton of Vaud, checked 21 Oct 2026). For private schools, the cantonal department authorises teachers and heads and supervises schools that take pupils of compulsory age, without vouching for their methods or quality (Canton of Vaud, checked 21 Oct 2026).

Childcare is requested through the Réseau-L central waiting list at the Guichet info familles, Place Chauderon 9, from the fourth month of pregnancy and up to six months before moving to Lausanne; an e-mail confirmation follows within 10 to 15 days, and a place is offered only on the days the parents work (lausanne.ch, checked 21 Oct 2026).

Newcomers register with the Service du contrôle des habitants at Rue du Port-Franc 18. The registration deadline is 14 days (2026) (lausanne.ch, checked 21 Oct 2026). Arrivals from abroad or from another canton book a counter appointment and attend in person with a complete file (lausanne.ch, checked 21 Oct 2026), and the city's fee schedule sets CHF 30 for registering an arrival (lausanne.ch, checked 21 Oct 2026). For the national rules, see registering at your commune.