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The early years in the French education system...
Écoles Maternelles
École Maternelle is comparable with nursery school or
kindergarten in anglophone countries. Schooling for children aged 3 was made
compulsory in 2019. Enrolment for the local école maternelle should
be done at the Mairie. It is free of charge (aside from extras,
including lunch). Children must have had their mandatory vaccinations. Children
who are two at the rentrée - the start of the new school year in
September - are accepted provided they are sufficiently mature and
"socialised". (This is gauged by a doctor who will issue a
certificate). If the child turns two before the end of the year, and the school
has space the child may be admitted. If there is no Maternelle in an
area, a child may start at the école élémentaire in the section enfantine from the age of 5 years.
The Maternelle is
divided into:
- Petite Section: 2-3
years
- Moyenne Section:
3-5 years
- Grande Section: 5-6
years
Apply at the Mairie for a certificat d'inscription by June of the year you want your child to start. Late applications
are technically not allowed but will probably be considered. You will need to show:- the "livret de famille". If
you don't have one, you will need to provide essential information
including the child's birth certificate
- proof of up-to-date
vaccinations supplied by the doctor, or a photocopy of the vaccinations
page in the child's health booklet (carnet
de santé)
- proof of address
To register at the school, take:- the certificat d'inscription issued
by the mairie
- certificate of
health and school readiness issued by the doctor
- proof of up-to-date
vaccinations supplied by the doctor, or a photocopy of the vaccinations
page in the child's health booklet (carnet
de santé)
- the livret de famille if
available
If there are fewer places available than
applicants, older children will be given preference.- Further information
(in French) from Service-Public
Écoles Élémentaires
École élémentaire is the equivalent of primary, junior or
elementary school in anglophone countries. This is for ages 6 to 11. A child
must be enrolled in the école élémentaire by the June prior to the September start of
school. If a child is continuing in the same schooling area, there is no need
to re-apply to the Mairie. People new to an area, or if the child did
not attend the maternelle, must apply to the Mairie for
a certificat d'inscription to the assigned school in the area. Take:- the livret de famille or
birth certificate
- proof of up-to-date
vaccinations for the child
- proof of residence
in the commune
It is not compulsory that a child attends the
local, assigned école élémentaire, but if a "non-local" school is
preferred, specific applications must be made through the Mairie. A dérogation must
be requested to apply to a school outside the catchment area. Parents may
approach schools directly for enrolment (in addition to the Mairie) and in
some primary schools it is the director's discretion that allows entrance for a
pupil from another catchment area.
The French Education Ministry has more
on the school system.
Grades/years of the écoles élémentaires
The French Education Ministry has a Pdf in English explaining the different stages of school in France.
French grade name | Age | UK, US, other name |
---|---|---|
Cours préparatoire (CP) or 11ème | 6-7 years | year 2/first grade |
Cours élémentaire 1 (CE1) or 10ème | 7-8 years | year 3/second grade |
Cours élémentaire 2 (CE2) or 9ème | 8-9 years | year 4/third grade |
Cours moyen 1 (CM1) or 8ème | 9-10 years | year 5/fourth grade |
Cours moyen 2 (CM2) or 7ème | 10-11 years | year 6/fifth grade |