Putting Your Child into a French School

As an increasing number of younger families now choose to live in France, what arrangements can you expect for your child to be taught French? In most areas of France, schools make a substantial effort to integrate new arrivals from abroad into the school system. The whole new arrival process is known as l'accueil à l'école des élèves primo arrivants. In some cases special arrangements may be made for your child to be taught the French language on an intensive basis with other new arrivals before they join the main class. In other cases, arrangements may be made for special French lessons to be given out of school hours, or in lieu of other subjects. Thus, where there are at least three pupils in a school who do not speak French as their mother tongue, a school is able to request special teaching assistance, called Français Langue Etrangère (FLE), to assist with the integration of these children.

You may well come across schools that include ‘International’ or 'European' Sections in a school. The role of International Sections is, in part, to facilitate the introduction of those from abroad into the French school system, which has the double effect of helping French children get a better understanding of a foreign language. On the other hand, the purpose of European Sections is to introduce French children more widely to European languages, culture and history. Not only will there be additional teaching of a foreign language, but some teaching of another subject (normally history-geography) in the foreign language. Thus, whilst they each have a slightly different purpose, the effect is much the same, i.e. some teaching in a foreign language.

Moreover, the amount of teaching in a foreign language is not substantial, so do not be misled by the nomenclature. Whether or not there are specialist sections in your local school, it would be imprudent to rely on the school to meet all your needs.

Opinions differ on the latest you can leave the entry of your child into a French school, because all children are different, and school practices differ. A lot will depend on the motivation of your child - if they resent having to learn a new language, then it will not be easy. In our opinion sending a child to a French school beyond the age 8 years, without any prior knowledge of the language (or at least the motivation to learn it), would make it very difficult for them. Even at this age special language classes are going to be imperative, but even six weeks intensive language training over the summer holiday, before the start of school in September, would make a huge difference. With no decent language skills, one of the major risks your child will face is in having to resit their year (possibly more than once), because of insufficient academic or language progress. If this occurs then they are going to be faced with the double jeopardy of not only adjusting to a new language and culture, but also the risk of suffering a sense of failure. If your child then becomes unhappy about living in France, your own dreams may be placed in jeopardy. This is a scenario that is far too real for many families who have relocated. For older children with no French language ability, then probably the best solution would be to relocate to an area where there are International Schools, such as Paris, Nice, Toulouse or Bordeaux. For those of you who have already relocated to France, then your feedback on this whole topic would be most interesting to receive as your own experiences can only benefit those who follow you. You can read more about educating your child in France in our Guide to School Education in France.