Comments on: French schools

By: Boris

Boris — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 10:54:24 +0000

There are lots of us still out here Mel!
Most 6 year olds adjust very quickly although a short period of not speaking is common at first while they absorb the new language. Schools vary a great deal but I think that doesn’t matter too much – schools that insist on only speaking French (or are only able to speak French) are normal and the best way for your child to adjust.
Assessing a school is harder, and it’s true that some are are more welcoming than others. I think a ‘basic conversational’ level French chat with the teacher will tell you pretty quickly whether they are warm and welcoming or not. personally i would avoid schools which have very many other English children already, because I think that slows down integration substantially as they are able to speak english to each other instead.
Class sizes are usually up to about 30, but often less in smaller towns and villages.
Good luck with your move, let us know how it all goes!

By: Melanie

Melanie — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 10:11:27 +0000

Hi,

I am hoping there are still people out there!!

We are thinking of moving to France in the new year. My son will be 5, and will have completed his first year at a private school here in the UK. I will also have a 6 month old, but am obviously less worried about him/her as when school starts we will have been in France a long time!!

I am obviously worried about my son. He is very bright, and already learns some spoken French at school. My real fear is him being in school / nursery (it seems) and not understanding what is happening? How good are schools at helping? We don’t have a set place to move to, just around Carcassonne is the aim, so can locate ourselves to suit him.

I am also worried as my french is basic conversational, and my husbands is non-existant. How the hell do we assess what is a good school on that basis!!!! I want him in a local school being immersed in the language.

Also – any ideas on class sizes generally in France. We would be looking at a vllage not a town

thanks Mel xx

By: Shia

Shia — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 22:12:36 +0000

Hello everyone,
We just found this useful website. We’re planning to take our 6 year old daughter to live in France for a year. We’re hoping to spend a quality family time over there and our daughter can learn French. My husband is teaching English in England and hop he will be able to find a teaching job in France too. We’re thinking about to stay in a small pretty and peaceful town but not being isolated. Can anyone give us any suggestion on which part of France where we may mostly make local French friends and have a relaxing time, please? Many thanks in advance.
Shia

By: Marie

Marie — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 19:35:07 +0000

Hi Siew Keng,

this is a long time since your post but you might still read this blog. I am French, my husband is Malaysian and we have moved from London to France 5 years ago. Your husband is quite right about french people slotting most “asiatiques” as boat people… but it does not meet you will not be accepted, do not let this put you off. People here live in such a cosy, closed little world but if you show them you like their place , they will certainly warm to you! it is also easier for a woman to fit in, especially if you have to pick the kids from school. do not be scared, and most important, SHOW people you are trying to learn the language and are willing to integrate . Why not use the theme of food so dear to both our cultures to break the ice? invite some parents of the kids’friends.
by the way, there is in Paris a great Indian grocery with online orders ,including some Malaysian stuff http://www.e-velan.com
good luck ,
Marie

By: Emma

Emma — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 20:30:51 +0000

Thanks Claire. That’s really useful (and reassuring!). We have one son who turns 3 in July and the other who will 2 in October (so would be looking at Maternelle for him after a year, so if he started in the September at 2 years 11 months he would be 3 the following month. We have appointments with the schools in June to enrol our eldest at the Maternelle and our youngest in the nursery attached to the school. Both have been really positive about taking them and the Maternelle has had an English child before. The main problem we are encountering at the moment is that we haven’t found anywhere to live yet and although we hopefully will on the same trip out in June to move in September, the schools say we can’t officially enrol until we have a permanent address. I’m sure it is just lesson two in French beaurocracy, the first being when we discovered that the hourly rate for the nursery was our combined taxable salaries divided by 12 and times by 0.005% to give the hourly rate! Emma

By: Claire

Claire — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 12:52:56 +0000

Emma, school is free for all children resident in France, taxes have nothing to do with it. But you have to be able to provide proof of residence (eg. rental contract), and bear in mind that not all maternelle schools have provision for two-year-olds (if their third birthday is later than 31 December in the year that they start school). Provision for children who don’t turn three by 31 Dec is in a special class called Tres Petite Section, more frequently provided by schools in towns than in villages.

On the subject of international schools, my son was expelled from one at the age of four for behavioural issues (we weren’t at all impressed by the way the school handled it) and is doing very nicely in the local French school.

By: Emma

Emma — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 17:31:56 +0000

Thanks for the advice. We were out there last week and have arranged to go out in May to investigate further with the mayors office. Hopefully my French will be a bit better by then!

By: Boris

Boris — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 06:12:11 +0000

Hi,
I am 99% sure they will just be able to attend the local school regardless of where you pay taxes etc – (1) because we know several people who send their children to French schools but pay taxes in the UK (2) because when we arived in France our own children went to school straightaway and at the time we had never paid taxes etc in France (3) I think it is a law in Europe that children MUST be educated, wherever they live – although perhaps that only applies to children over the age of 5 or 6, I’m not sure. Whatever, I would be very surprised if it is a problem.
Good luck with your plans

By: Emma

Emma — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 20:30:00 +0000

Hi, we are moving to Taninges in the Haute Savoie next September, initally for 18 months. Our two boys will at that time be 23 months and 3 years and 2 months. I am keen to get them both into ecole maternelle (when the youngest turns two). I would like to know how French education is funded. My husband works for a multi-national company and is paid (and will continue to be paid) through the UK. I will be returning to the UK periodically to locum as a doctor so neither of us will be paying income tax (or equivalent) in France. Can we send our children to the local ecole maternelle for free or would we be able to pay for them to go to that state school? The nearest private school is an hour away and I really want them to stay within the local community to integrate. Many thanks.

By: Boris

Boris — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 14:19:56 +0000

Our youngest daughter didn’t speak French for more or less a year when we came (she was aged 5) although it was obvious to us that she understood what was being said to her and she had a little group of friends. Like you we were worried but left her to take her own time. At home we spoke English (at that time our French was hopeless) but we did and do still have French television to make sure we all hear some French even in the home environment and to make sure the children could join in with conversations at school which will tend to include what is happening in Secret Story etc. You will be amused to hear that we are now seriously having to try and improve her English as French is undeniably her first language both spoken and written. Indeed last year she was first in her class in French!! My advice would definitely be to leave your daughter to take her time. I think when she starts primary school she will have no choice but to participate more but by then she will be more than ready. I would definitely get French telly too if you havent already.
(Mrs B)
Also we weren’t the first to know when she was speaking – we mentioned to her teacher one day that we were concerned, and she said ‘but of course she’s speaking French at school’ – seemed she just didn’t like us seeing that she could…
(Boris)