Cost for French preschools?

Member since 04 January 2010

adowdMember07 June 2011 19:46:43

Hi. I am hoping and planning to move to France sometime next year. I expect to have a long-stay visa but not a work-permit so I am assuming that I would not be eligible to enroll my 4 year old son in preschool program for free. I would like for him to be in a French school if he would be eligible to attend. Will I just need to pay a tuition? If so, can some of you offer advice on how much that typically costs especially in the Brittany or Normandy areas?

Thank you!

talatta Active member

Member since 08 March 2011

talattaActive member07 June 2011 22:08:08

Hi.Are you talking about a public school?In that case,I don't see why your child can't attend the local school.In France,preschool is free.Kids start at 3 years (2.5 in some places).Inscriptions usually take place in may for schoolstart in septembre.The school depends on your adress.If you allready know where you will be living,contact the "mairie".They will tell you what school your child "belongs" to.The only things to pay,are meals at noon.Don't hesitate if you think I can give you more information.

talatta Active member

Member since 08 March 2011

talattaActive member07 June 2011 22:10:45

Here is a link (in French-but if you don't speak enough french try google translation to get the general idea)
http://www.education.gouv.fr/cid161/l-i … nelle.html

adowd Member

Member since 04 January 2010

adowdMember08 June 2011 00:23:23

Thanks for the information. I am glad to hear that school might be free for my son. I had just assumed that if I was not eligible for some social services such as free healthcare that school would also not be free.

talatta Active member

Member since 08 March 2011

talattaActive member08 June 2011 15:47:06

No.School's free for everybody.To give you an example,when my daughter was in preschool,the headteacher accepted several children of illigal immigrants.People who didn't have free healthcare -or even any kind of visa.
You just need to take care of inscriptions in time-especially if you are going to live in a bigger town.In small places they're often just more than happy to get more pupils!

Good luck on your moving-plans.