L'Ecole Childcare Centres

L'Ecole Childcare Centre Żebbuġ looks after babies and toddlers from 3 months to 3 years at 93 Triq Frans Sammut in Ħaż-Żebbuġ, a short walk from the town centre and directly opposite St Ignatius primary school. It is the largest of the six L'Ecole centres across Malta and opened in 2015 as the group's second branch. The atmosphere is intended to feel homely and cheerful, with a team that mixes ages, experience and cultures.

For UK parents who live in Malta, are moving to the island or are working remotely from it, a licensed local childcare centre is often the first practical step. VisitMalta.co.uk lists L'Ecole among the children's activities in Malta and in the directory of nurseries in Malta, where you can compare other options.

The L'Ecole story and its six centres

L'Ecole began in 2011 with a first centre in Ħal Qormi, started out of a love of working with children and a growing need in the community for safe daytime care. The Żebbuġ centre followed in 2015, Siġġiewi in September 2017 and Msida in January 2020. Later in 2020 the group opened two newer centres, in Blata l-Bajda beside a roundabout near an institute of higher education, and in St Julian's on Triq Lapsi next to the parish church.

Those last two were designed around the Nordic approach, and the group treats that philosophy as its guiding idea across all six sites. Each centre has its own character, so it is worth visiting the one nearest to your home or workplace. Żebbuġ, Qormi and Siġġiewi suit families in the south-west and centre, while Msida, Blata l-Bajda and St Julian's serve the harbour side. If you are planning days out around nursery hours, our Mdina guide and our Valletta guide cover two of the most popular destinations within easy reach.

How a day at the centre works

Children are grouped by age, with carers looking after smaller groups for the youngest. The ratios are three children to one carer from 3 months to a year, five to one between 12 and 24 months, and six to one from 24 to 36 months, with mixed-age groups also kept at six to one. Each child is allocated a carer and spends the day with others of a similar age.

The daily routine is built around planned but unstructured activities in which children mix freely and learn through play. A typical day includes circle time, crafts, music and dancing, outdoor play, role play, story time and messy play, with naps and nappy changing or potty support through the day. Themes are chosen with the children's interests in mind, and staff teach everyday basic skills that help later when children start kindergarten.

Beyond the daily routine, the centre runs a theme week on subjects such as science, health, hygiene and growing food, and a colour week. Parent activity days, parent meetings, an annual celebration day, outings, concerts and yoga sessions for toddlers round out the calendar.

The Nordic approach to early learning

The Nordic way of working puts play, relationships and outdoor life at the centre of early education. It treats learning as something that happens through social interaction and taking part, rather than through formal teaching, and it is grounded in children's rights and democratic values. In practice that means child-led activities, open-ended materials such as wooden blocks, light tables, water play and natural items, and plenty of time to explore.

The centre's managers and carers return to the same idea: that free play lets children reach milestones at their own pace and builds confidence, creativity and curiosity. Communication with parents is a stated core value alongside safety, education, teamwork and fun, so families can expect feedback on progress throughout the week. The start of childcare is often harder for parents than for children, and the centre helps by letting a child begin with an hour or two on the first days and building up gradually.

Free Childcare Scheme, enrolment and rules

All L'Ecole centres take part in the government's Free Childcare Scheme, which began in 2014 to make childcare more affordable and to help parents enter or return to work. It is open to people who live and work in Malta and are employed or studying, subject to the scheme's terms and conditions. Families who do not use the scheme can apply and pay by fee instead.

A one-time, non-refundable enrolment fee secures a place, and places are offered on a first come, first served basis. The amount is not published, so ask when you enquire. The centres are licensed and registered with the Department of Education, and the carers hold a level 4 diploma in childcare, food handling certification and paediatric first aid training. Managers also arrange staff workshops with specialists such as child psychologists and doctors.

A few practical rules help parents plan. The centre does not provide food or drink, so you bring your child's meals from home, and pushchairs may not be left at the centre. It is open all year apart from some days over Christmas, a week in August and public holidays, and an annual holiday list is handed over at enrolment. Children born between January and April begin kindergarten in February, with Free Childcare Scheme support ending at the end of January, while those born between May and December start in October, with support ending at the end of September.

Paperwork is straightforward and much of it can be downloaded in advance. Parents complete an emergency information record, a pick-up permission form, an activity authorisation and a picture and video permission form, and families applying through the Free Childcare Scheme can use the scheme's application checklist and leaflet. Having these ready before a first meeting makes the visit quicker and leaves more time for questions about the day itself.

Visits are arranged by appointment. After you enquire, the team schedules a meeting and a walk around the centre so you can see the rooms, the outdoor area and the sensory spaces, and meet the carers who would look after your child. Seeing a centre in person is worthwhile, because each L'Ecole building has its own layout and feel.

The team and finding the centre

The Żebbuġ centre is led by its manager, Yanika Azzopardi, within a group run by General Manager Bettina Vilhjalmsson, with Arnar Vilhjalmsson responsible for management and marketing. Each centre has its own manager and a team of qualified carers. Opening hours are 6am to 6pm at every centre, which suits parents with commuting or shift patterns.

Żebbuġ sits inland, between the old capital Mdina and the Three Harbours area, so it is handy for families living around Attard, Balzan, Rabat and Qormi. UK families new to the area who also want English-language or Maltese classes for themselves can look at AM Language, and children's days out are covered by Adventure Hub and our things to do in Malta guide. Because Malta's summers are hot and its winters mild but damp, our Malta weather guide is useful when thinking about outdoor play, clothing and the best months for settling a child in.

Moving to Malta with a young family

Many UK parents arrive in Malta for work, for a remote role or to start a business. Our relocation guide for UK movers covers the practicalities of residence, housing and daily life, and the digital nomad guide for Malta is aimed at people working online who need reliable childcare during the working day.

Choosing childcare abroad can feel daunting, so it helps to bring a short list of questions: how the day is structured for your child's age, how the team shares news at pick-up, which days are closure days, and how the Free Childcare Scheme interacts with your working pattern. The centre is used to these conversations and works hand in hand with parents.

The next step is simply to ask. Tell L'Ecole your child's age, the days and hours you need, whether you plan to use the Free Childcare Scheme and your preferred start date. Use the VisitMalta.co.uk enquiry form on this page and we will pass your message to the centre, which will arrange a meeting and a walk-around.