Guide to Childcare in Israel and 15 questions every parent should ask

If there is one thing harder than birth, we would say it is trying to register your child for day care. Unlike the birthing process, there’s no Lamaze class to teach you breathing techniques as you try to register your child for day care in Israel.

But lucky for our readers, you can learn through our mistakes and questions as we  navigate the childcare system in Israel. And let us say right off the bat, that we encourage and beg you to add info in the comments section in order to help the new parent community.

It is barely spring, but according to Israel you need to secure a place for your child for the fall. You must sign up before spaces fill up, and that means that even if you don’t know what part of town, or even what part of the country you are living in, well that’s too bad.

Check out our guide below that explains the different types of daycare options in Israel.

Public/Government Run Childcare:

Maon (Daycare)

Definition: This is large-scale daycare run by various organizations (usually women’s organizations).  The government supervises and dictates policy.  You must register for these and be accepted (registration starts April 27, 2011). Full-time working mothers have top priority.

Groups:

• 3-15 months: 1 adult for every 6 children, maximum 15 in a group.
• 15 months – 2 years: 1:9 ratio,  maximum 23 in a group
• 2-3 years: 1:11 ratio, maximum 27 in a group

Opening Hours:

• Sunday-Thursday: 7:00am-4:00pm (though some go as late as 5:00pm)
• Friday: 7:00 am-1:00pm
• Holidays:  Government policy: three weeks in August (of which you pay a full month’s worth of tuition), a week before Pesach and the whole holiday, the other major Jewish holidays and the week of Sukkot.

Prices: NIS1550- NIS 2050, scale-based subsides payments based on household salaries and siblings

What is included: Food (and sometimes sheets)

What you need to bring: diapers, baby wipes, clothes, pacifiers, bottles, (sheet for the bed)

Maons in Jerusalem:

• WIZO
• Naamat
• Emunah

Mishpachton (pre-nursery in someone’s home)

Definition: This is daycare that is run out of a private home.  The government supervises and dictates policy.  There can be a maximum of 5 children (without getting special permission for more)  and  no more than 2 children under the age of one.  If there are more children an additional caregiver must be present.

Hours and Holidays:

• 6 Day a week Mishpachton: Sun-Thur 7:00am-4:00pm, Fri: 7:00am-12:00pm
• 5 Day a week Mishpachton: Sun-Thur 7:00am-4:30pm or 7:30am-5:00pm (although some places are only until 4:00pm)
• Holidays: They must abide by the government set holiday schedule.  This includes taking off three weeks in August (of which you pay a full month’s worth of tuition), a week before Pesach and the whole holiday, the other major Jewish holidays and the week of Sukkot.

Prices: More or less the same price as a Maon, approximately NIS 1550, scale-based subsides payments based on household salaries and siblings.

What is included: Food

What you need to bring: diapers, baby wipes, clothes, pacifiers, bottles, sheet for the bed

Private Daycare:

Mishpachton (pre-nursery)

Definition: Private daycare. Generally smaller groups of babies ranging from three-months to one-and-a-half. There are anywhere from three to fourteen kids in these groups.  There is no government supervision and therefore no maximum ratio of children to adults.  Be sure to check what each one’s policy is.

Opening Hours:

• 7:00am, 7:30am or 8am- 3:45pm, 4:00pm or 4:30pm, generally 5-days a week
• Holidays: They work more or less under the same holiday time frame as public daycare, however they are allowed to make their own holiday schedule, so make sure they let you know in advance. This includes taking off three weeks in August (of which you pay a full month’s worth of tuition), a week before Pesach and the whole holiday, the other major Jewish holidays and the week of Sukkot).

Prices: Tend to be more expensive, ranging from NIS 1900 to NIS 2400

What is included: Food

What you need to bring: diapers, baby wipes, clothes, pacifiers, bottles, sheet for the bed

Metapelet  (in-home babysitter):

Definition: This is someone you bring to your house to babysit full time.  You may also split the cost with a friend and then switch off days at each other’s houses.

Hours:  You make your own hours.

Holidays:  This depends on your metapelet, discuss the topic before hiring.

Price: Expensive..??????????NIS

What is included: Nothing.  Your metapelet may agree to prepare food  if you provide her with the ingredients

 

More Helpful Definitions:

• Peuton (Nursery School) For kids ranging from age one to two-and-a-half.
• Tzaharon (Afternoon Childcare) When a child is older, between the ages of five-12-years-old (separated by age), they will go to free day care called gan chova which is until 1:00pm. For additional payment, you can keep your child in daycare until 4:00pm.
• Gan: 8-4:00; 3-5 years old; 813 shekels a month 2011; You can see the cut off dates on the Jerusalem municipal website. Prices can run anywhere from 70 NIS(Iriyah with all the discounts) to 800 NIS for private..
• Gan Chova (compulsory kindergarten for 5 year olds) You can see the cut off dates on the Jerusalem municipal website.

 

15 Questions every parent should ask before enrolling their child in childcare:

1. Did you go check out the place in person, at least once?
2. Is there a contract?
3. Does the daycare operate according to governmental law?
4. What if the metapelet/ganenet is sick? Is there a replacement?
5. What if your child is sick? Are you allowed to bring them?
6. Food – breakfast, lunch, and snack, is it included or do you bring your own?
7. Vacations / Holidays / Summer:  Are they around in August? Jewish holidays chol hamoed?
8. What are the hours? If there are only morning hours, is there somewhere close by that they can go for afternoon hours?
9. Price
10. Child to Adult ratio
11. What ages do they accept?
12. What are payment options?
13. What are the areas where babies play, including outdoors and where do they sleep?
14. Ask the metapelet about her background?
15. Ask for other parents’ phone numbers for recommendations

For Jerusalemites:

For questions and for a list of kindergartens, call the below phone numbers according to the area where you live in Jerusalem

Area 1: Neve Yaakov, Pisgat Ze’ev, Givat Shapira, Kiryat Yovel, Yafe Nof, Ramat Beit Hakerem, Ramot Eshkol, Malcha, Bayit Vegan, Ma’alot Dafna, Ramot, Ramat Shlomo
Tel: 02 629 6768
Fax: 026296599

Area 2: Ein Karem, Ir Ganim, Kiryat Menachem, Kiryat Sarah/Derech Hebron, Givat Mesua, Gilo, Homat Shmuel, Talpiot Havitikah, Baka, Talpiot Mizrach, Mekor Chaim
Tel: 026296767
Fax: 026295897

Area 3: Merkaz Ha’ir, Rehavia, Givat Mordechai, Nayot, Givat Havrodim, Katamonim, Pat, Gonen havitikah, Talpiot, Ramat Sharet, Kiryat Moshe,  Kiryat Wolfson, Nachlaot, Moshava Germanit, Harova Hayehudi, Har NOf, Givat Shaul, Arlozorov, Beit Shmuel, Ir David, Arnona
Tel: 026296769
Fax: 026296582

Here’s a list of Metapelets in Jerusalem that I found during my search:

Metapelet	Location	Contact info	Info
Talia	Emek Refaim	077-535-3104	Babies, private, NIS 2200
Yardana	4 Mekor Haim	054-697-4936	Private, 4 children from babies to 2-year-old (her son), English speaker, NIS 1300 part time
Evelyn Cohen	6 Rut St.	02-566-3823	7:30am-4pm, private, age range varies, NIS 1300 part time, no food
Odelyia	12 HaLamed Hay	054-336-6271	7:30am-4pm, 5 days, food included, NIS 2300 and NIS 500 registration fee, babies, private
Panina	4 Kline	02-561-2111 (secretary, pricing)	7:00am-4pm, private, by hour, day, weekly, expensive, ages range from 3months-3 years
Miriam	HaRakevet	02-671-2775	Older children 2+, private
Levana	4 Ben Yafuna	077-767-1448	Older Children 2+, private
Sigal	9 Magal Yavnae	052-460-0490	Private, around 4 babies
Dafna	11 Nakdamon	054-637-8343	Babies to 1.5, around 14 kids, NIS 1900 7am-3:45pm 5 days, private
Sara H.	34 Efrata	02-672-2461	Namat, maon
Tamar Levy	17 Elazar HaModi	02-566-0461	Namat, maon
Sara H. (same)	Yehuda 16	02-671-6848	Namat, maon
Shula	141 Rehavim	02-678-3808	Wizo, maon

Have a recommendation or advice, please post them here to help others!

 

Special Thanks to Elkie for all her help!!!

[photo credit: Anthony J on Flickr]

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