Integration Basel area law on early language support applies from September
The law on early language support in the canton of Basel-Landschaft comes into force on September 1, 2024. The law, which was passed by the cantonal parliament in September 2023, stipulates that municipalities can oblige parents to send children with language support needs to an appropriate program.
26.06.2024, 10:35
SDA
At least one free early language support program must be available. The municipalities bear the costs for compulsory language support. In the case of voluntary offers, the costs can be shared, as the government announced on Wednesday. The canton also contributes to the training and further education costs for playgroups and daycare centers with an annual base amount.
Language support for foreign-language children in the Basel region is still only offered selectively before they start kindergarten. Some municipalities would like to introduce a targeted compulsory language support program, but until now there has been no legal basis for this, no uniform regulation for this compulsory offer throughout the canton and no uniform quality criteria.
As providers of early language support, playgroups and daycare centers often do not have the resources to train and educate their employees. The law is now intended to be a first step towards changing this, according to the press release.
Early language support should last at least one year and is generally aimed at children aged three to four. It is designed to be "intuitive and age-appropriate" - in other words, it is not "school lessons", as the statement continues. As in the neighboring canton of Basel-Stadt, parents are asked to complete a questionnaire to assess their children's language skills. At cantonal level, this is coordinated by the Safety Directorate.
