Looking for a crèche for your little one?

When should I enrol my child in a nusery?

If you were to listen to many people’s experiences on when to start looking for a crèche, they may well tell you that you should've started looking yesterday.

To obtain a place in a nursery for your child, it is advisable to register your child as soon as possible. You can, for example, enrol your child in a nursery during your maternity leave. The first registration steps can even be taken during pregnancy, at the end of the first trimester, with valid proof of pregnancy.

Crèches typically open from 7am - 7pm and accept children from two months to four years old.

In order to start the process of finding a reputable crèche for your child, you must first narrow down your choice and begin contacting the facilities you would like to view.

Pre-registration

There are various stages between pre-registration and your child arriving for his first day at crèche.

Ahead of pre-registration, you need to ascertain the desired start date. Note that a September start date can be favourable as they way nurseries work is in fact modelled on the way schools work.

As this is a period of rotation when places open up when the older children leave to start précoce or school and the children in the crèche advance according to their age. For example, each crèche will have separate rooms for infants, toddlers and pre-schoolers.

There will be several sections to be filled out with the requested information at the pre-registration stage. What is typically asked is the following:

• Information on the child being enrolled such as gender, last name, first name and date of birth  

• Family information - your details as parent/ guardian, such as name, address, email address and phone number

• Languages spoken at home  

• Contract type, whether it be full-time or part-time. Sometimes there is the option to add the exact times that the child will arrive and be picked up. 

Optional information can also be provided such as known allergies of your child, matriculation numbers of child and parents/ guardians as well as details of an alternative person who has authorisation to collect your child, such as a grandparent, aunt or uncle.

If the crèche has a number of structures you will indicate which is your preferred location.

The all-important first visit can then be organised, even if your child is not yet born. At this viewing, you have the opportunity to meet the staff and management, get a tour around the facility as well as ask any questions you have.

This visit will give you a firm idea whether this is the structure for your child or not.

Once your decision has been made, your child’s enrolment at the crèche can be finalised once the admission file has been completed and the deposit or caution has been paid and received by the crèche. You will need to provide a set of documents: birth certificate, proof of address, proof of income, medical certificate, copy of the vaccination record, etc.

An adaptation week will be agreed between the parents and the crèche and can take place over two weeks, depending on the policy. Initially, the child comes for an hour or two accompanied by a parent who stays will for the duration. After the third day, the child may stay by themselves, depending on how they are settling in and how they react to the separation.

Cost

The monthly cost of a place is based on several elements and varies for each family.

According to myguichet.lu: "With the childcare service voucher (chèque-service acceuil - CSA), parents can benefit from reduced rates for education and care services (services d'éducation et d'accueil - SEA) (crèches, drop-in centres (maison relais), mini-crèches, childcare centres) and also if employing a childminder (also called parental assistant), provided however that the structure in question is recognised as a chèque-service accueil (CSA) service provider by the Ministry of Education, Children and Youth.”

“In particular, these structures must meet certain quality standards and fulfil the public service mission of guaranteeing equal opportunities for all children with the aim of social cohesion. By these means, the State supports the integration of children into Luxembourg society on the local community level and fosters their schooling in Luxembourg's basic education system.”

The amount of the state's participation (amount of the CSA) and the parent's financial participation are calculated on a per case basis by taking into account:

• The income of the household the child lives in (married couples, couples joined under a civil partnership, or cohabiting couples are deemed equal) 

• The number of children eligible for family allowances in the household and the child's position in the sibling order 

• The type of childcare structure (in a collective childcare facility or with a childminder) 

• The number of hours the child spends in the childcare structure 

• The specific advantages according to the child's age. Twenty hours of free childcare for children from one to four years of age accommodated in a collective childcare facility. 

The CSA is paid directly to the childcare providers registered with the service voucher programme.

The Ministry of Education contributes financially up to a maximum of 60 hours per week, at a rate of €6 per hour for collective structures. In addition, the State covers a maximum of five meals per week.

Terminating a crèche contract

It is important to familiarise yourself with the notice period as set out in your contract. The notice period can vary between two and three months depending on the facility and the termination letter must be received before the first day of the month marking the beginning of the notice period.

The termination notice must be sent by registered post and addressed to the manager with acknowledgment of receipt. Alternatively, it can be delivered by hand to the manager.

In the event of a shorter notice period, you would be invoiced for the following month. In certain cases of force majeure, the period of notice may be reduced.