A Guide for Parents of Young Children

In France primary education is not seen only as a period of education, but it is believed to be the key to success for later education. It is supposed to build the basis for a life long education. For this, the French government aims to offer equal opportunities to all children. This means that education is free and children can join a school at any time of the year.

For 2008 things have slightly changed regarding schooling for young children in France. More realistic and ambitious, the new program gives priority to the teaching of French and mathematics as they are seen as the basis for successfully learning any other subject. The new program is shorter and more precise in nature.

Schooling at a glance:

Maternelle: This is the equivalent of nursery school and is optional in France. It is divided into:

Petites section. For children aged 3 to 4
Moyen section, for children aged 4 to 5
Grand section, for children aged 5 to 6

Usually the nursery school forms part of the main primary school. If you talk to the teacher your child can go only for half a day (9am. to 12pm.) as opposed to assisting in the afternoons as well from 1:30pm. to 4:30pm. On the other hand, if you have to work and leave your child at school from 9am to 4:30, he can have his lunch in the school’s canteen for a small fee.

Le cours Préparatoire. Also known as CP. Children start the CP the year of their sixth birthday. From this point forwards education is obligatory.
Le cours Elementaire: CE1, CE2
Le cours Moyen : CM1,CM2

Passing from one class to the next one is the decision of the “Conseil de maitres” which is formed by the school’s director and the teachers.

The Maternelle
Most children in France start the maternelle school at the age of three. The maternelle is divided into Petit, Moyen (intermediate) and grande section. The three sections correspond each to a school year. The maternelle aims to teach children to interact with other children while discovering the world around them. This period is very important as it prepares children for their entrance into the Elementary school.

When we moved to France our daughter was only 3 years old and the day I went to enquire at the school about her education, I was pleasantly surprised to hear that she could start school the next day. We were already two months away from the end of the school year and my daughter didn’t speak French, but the school was keen to take her in anyway. The next day, the teacher was so gentle in welcoming our daughter, that from that day on she has loved school. What’s more, only a few weeks later she was already speaking in French!

From my point of view, I was just happy to see that we did not have to wait until the start of a new school year, get extra language help, fill in a mountain of paperwork or pay anything for our girl to be schooled and have one of the sweetest lady teachers I have ever seen.

Elementary School
Elementary education is free and obligatory for all children –French or foreigners- from six to sixteen years of age.
CP et CE1: The aims of these two years are to teach the child to read and understand what they are reading. Writing and doing some basic arithmetic are also aimed for. It is at this stage that children are initiated in artistic education and art history.

During CP and CE1 there is special attention paid to reading and writing. Teachers take grammar and orthography very seriously, so do not be surprised to have your 7 year old child correcting your French writing!

During this period teachers not only supervise the knowledge acquired by the children but also the way this is done. Children are obliged to keep their personal areas clean, to respect other’s property and to respect their own property. Sometimes I have even thought that they are too obsessive about this point as mothers and teachers can spend ages discussing how to stop a child from bending the pages in his book or writing untidily. Children are obliged to follow determined calligraphy which is not always obvious for us foreigners!

Foreign languages at CP and CE1: The teaching of foreign languages during primary education is very basic. Mostly, it aims to learn sounds through songs and rhymes, and learning to read and write some basic vocabulary. If you want your child to learn English during this period it iup to you to teach him at home to read and write fluently in your own language.

Time Organization
From September 2008, teaching takes place from Monday to Friday as opposed to having classes on Saturday morning as well. This makes up a total of 24 hours a week and 864 hours per year. From these, 5 hours a week are dedicated entirely to learning mathematics, while 10 hours go towards learning French. Another 9 hours are spent learning history, arts, discovering the world (basic geography and sciences) and doing sports. Foreign languages –English- is taught within this 9 hours at a rate of one and a half hours per week.

An extra two hours weekly are set aside for personalized help to children who are finding difficult to cope with the programme.

What extra help do children get if they are finding difficulty to cope?
The extra help comes in three forms:
1) The teacher adapts the programme to the child’s needs within the same class. Usually this comes in the form of extra time spent explaining a point to the child or in the form of specific class work.
2) An extra help of two hours weekly is offered.
3) During CM1 and CM2 the teacher can offer an extra week to upgrade your child to the class’s level. This week is usually organized during school holidays. This is taken by children on a voluntary basis, they are not obliged to do it.

The whole help program for your child can be organised into what the French call a PPRE or Programme Personalise de Reussite Educative (personalized programme for a successful education). This is a document signed by the parents, and the teachers.

A word about School Insurance
Your child is obliged to have school insurance to be able to participate in school outings.
The insurance covers both your child and also the risk of damage that he might cause to third parties. You can get school insurance from insurance companies for as little as 10 euros a year for the basic package, or as add-ons to your house insurance or family health insurance.

Health Issues at School
Vaccines: To be enrolled in a school, your child needs to be up to date with his vaccines. The obligatory ones are the diphtheria, tetanus and polio. You might be asked at school for a copy of the vaccination record of your child. If your child has been vaccinated in another country you will need a medical certificate stating that the vaccines took place. This can be done by your French doctor on request. You might also be asked for a medical certificate for certain extracurricular activities.

Medical Visit: The school organizes a medical visit for children before entering CP. This is offered to all children between 5 and 6 years old and is carried out by a doctor from the National Education board at school. You will be invited to be present during your child’s medical tests. This medical visit aims to uncover any problems that might cause any learning difficulties. Hearing, vision, motor skills and psychological tests are used during this visit.

Health education:

All through their schooling, children are given health education in the form of advice on nutrition, first aid and dangerous games.

Last year my children aged 3 and 5 were taught first aid adapted to their age group. They also had a special day where they were taught what to do in case of accidents while in the school bus.

For this year, the doctor from the Education board visited the school on the first day of classes and, after evaluating the children’s needs, advised the teachers to cancel any ‘gouter’ which is usually a biscuit given to the children sometime during the morning before lunch time. This was done so the children who eat at school would eat all of their lunch and their appetite would not be put off by the famous gouter.

The, children in CM1 and CM2 are informed of the danger of smoking and drinking alcohol.

Who is who in a French Primary School?
Le ministere de Education Nationale: This is the Ministry of Education. The Ministry fixes the school programmes, engages, educates and pays the school teachers. They are in charge of assuring the good quality of education.

L’inspection académique: The Academic inspection. This is the departmental office of education. They are in charge of organizing the school life in the schools of their area. Also they are in charge of recruiting extra personnel for helping children with trouble at school.

La Commune. This is the town. In France it is the town which owns the public schools and the maternelles. It is the town who builds, and takes care of the school buildings. Not only does the town provide the building but also the materials and furnishings for the school to function properly.

It is also the town’s responsibility to organize and finance the school canteen and the school bus service. The town is also responsible for recruiting any non-teaching personnel like drivers, kitchen and cleaning assistants.

La Cantine:
French schools give parents the option of a school canteen for lunch time. The menus are studied carefully and for an average of 2 Euros (depending on the school) your child can eat a nutritious three course meal.
An example of my children’s canteen’s menu available for 2,20 Euros a day is:

Starter: Tomato salad
First course: Ravioli with green salad
Cheese
Dessert: Fruit

Very rarely you will see chips or fried food in the menus. The usual starter is a salad or cold meats which, amazingly enough, children eat! Children are encouraged from an early age to eat properly using all their cutlery and eating the same things as adults.

For Christmas and special occasions, the canteen has special menus with presents for the same price!

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