Valletta - Post Report Question and Answers
Are preschools available? Day care? Are these expensive? What has been your experience with them, if any? Do the schools provide before- and/or after-school care?
My youngest daughter attends QSI preschool. It's about 9,000 euros per year and more expensive than we wanted to pay, but I toured several of the local preschools (called "kindergarten" for ages 3 and 4 here) and found them too depressing. The facilities are very, very small and crowded and there is very limited outdoor space, if any. I was willing to pay thousands more simply to give her the chance to run around in QSI's large outdoor space and play on a real playground. We've also been very happy with her teachers. Maltese schools get out around 1 pm, so if you're looking for child care coverage the international schools will have the longest hours offered for preschoolers. It's a real problem for 3 and 4 year olds in my opinion: daycare for infants through 2 year olds is full day, but Kindergarten 3 and 4 ends early. My local friends have told me that literally every Maltese family has grandparents or other extended family members who pick up and take care of the kids if both parents work, but it's a difficult gap for expats. - Sep 2025
Due to the economy doing well and the government offering free child care to EU citizens (maybe even all tax payers?) day cares fill up fast. If you know you are headed to Malta, look into day care asap. They are not cheap but they are affordable. Visit as soon as you get in town and get on a waiting list, or even reserve a spot based on research alone if you are ok with losing the deposit and don't want to risk not having daycare on day one. - Oct 2018
Yes. QSI and Verdala have half and full day but are expensive and there is a waiting list at Verdala. Maltese children, by law, start school at age 3. But, it's just state-sponsored daycare. A few Embassy personnel have enrolled their little ones at local schools, which cost very little. The only additional expense is usually uniforms. - Sep 2016
We have not experienced personally, but many use either Verdala for preK or San Andrea's school. I cannot comment on the cost, but believe it relatively high. There are a handful of outlying hourly drop off preschools and some people use nannies. - Jan 2014
OK. - Feb 2010
Good selection of Philippino nannies on the island with excellent experience levels. Would never let a Maltese person watch my child as their own children are regularly hit, bombarded with cigarette smoke, and kept awake until all hours. - Feb 2010
Available. - Jul 2009
