Does anyone know how we can rent long term in the south ?

[meems]

Hi

We are looking to relocate next june and we are desperate to find somewhere to live!!

We need to be by international schools or a village where are a few english speaking children attending the local school!!

Please help, we are really struggling

[Bevdeforges]

The south of France is a big place. Do you have a specific international school in mind? Or are you looking for an international school for your kids? If you're still looking, knowing the ages of your children would help.

It's tough finding villages where there might be "a few" English speaking children, as they don't normally keep that kind of statistics.

Try checking the British consulate website for listings of expat groups in the area. You should be able to contact them to find where their members live, and who among their members have school aged children. (Many expat groups, you'll find, are largely made up of retirees.)
Cheers,
Bev

[meems]

Originally Posted by Bevdeforges

The south of France is a big place. Do you have a specific international school in mind? Or are you looking for an international school for your kids? If you're still looking, knowing the ages of your children would help.

It's tough finding villages where there might be "a few" English speaking children, as they don't normally keep that kind of statistics.

Try checking the British consulate website for listings of expat groups in the area. You should be able to contact them to find where their members live, and who among their members have school aged children. (Many expat groups, you'll find, are largely made up of retirees.)
Cheers,
Bev

Hi Bev

We have looked and looked ! But so far have only found Nice International ( very expensive) and I think Marseille - I think this is right.

We want to be near to st tropez , nice or cannes and preferably near to a tgv route for my husband to commute to Paris.

We just want the children if attending local schools to not be too overwhelmed by no english speakers at all , we do speak french but not fluent yet!

My children are 9 and 3 Years
Thanks michelle

[Bevdeforges]

How timely - there was just a big deal in the news yesterday about the government's plans to expand teaching of English in the schools. Now, whether this will actually come about is anyone's guess, but if you do find that your kids are the only English speakers in the school, you could find yourselves very very popular.

There are dual language programs in some lycées, and occasionally in the collèges (junior highs) within the public school system. These programs can be tricky to find until you're actually living in the area.

But at age 3, your younger child will be babbling away in French in no time. The 9 year old may go through a rough patch at first, but will also pick up the language far quicker than you as parents will. (American friends of mine here started their daughter in public school at age 9. She did brilliantly with little or no problem and is now in university in Canada in international studies or some such discipline.)

Generally in the public schools I am told they assign someone to help the "foreign kids" assimilate into the class situation. If you're living in or near Nice, Cannes or St. Tropez, it shouldn't be a huge problem.
Cheers,
Bev

[meems]

[QUOTE=Bevdeforges;58886]How timely - there was just a big deal in the news yesterday about the government's plans to expand teaching of English in the schools. Now, whether this will actually come about is anyone's guess, but if you do find that your kids are the only English speakers in the school, you could find yourselves very very popular.

There are dual language programs in some lycées, and occasionally in the collèges (junior highs) within the public school system. These programs can be tricky to find until you're actually living in the area.

But at age 3, your younger child will be babbling away in French in no time. The 9 year old may go through a rough patch at first, but will also pick up the language far quicker than you as parents will. (American friends of mine here started their daughter in public school at age 9. She did brilliantly with little or no problem and is now in university in Canada in international studies or some such discipline.)

Generally in the public schools I am told they assign someone to help the "foreign kids" assimilate into the class situation. If you're living in or near Nice, Cannes or St. Tropez, it shouldn't be a huge problem.
Cheers,
Bev[/QOTE]


Hi Bev

Thank you so much - this could be great, i feel like a huge weight could of just been lifted ! The idea of them attending independant schools doesnt thrill me as i want them mix with french children as much as possible as we have no plans to return to England, (only for visiting the family)
DO you know how i could contact schools in the area, apart from a telephone call which although we speak a little french, Im not confident on the phone, do you think these schools will be contactable via email?
thanks again

[Bevdeforges]

Given the way the schools are organized in France, you may do better to contact the local mairies. Generally that's where they send you when you have questions about the schools, especially below the level of lycée.

Another approach is to contact some of the AVFs in the area (Accueil des Villes Françaises - a welcome group for newcomers). AVF -- Accueil There are lots of AVF groups in the Provence Alpes Côtes d'Azur region.
Cheers,
Bev