Kindergarten Fees? No School on Wed?

[Charlie01]

Anyone know if you have to pay for the kindergarten in France - my son is 4years old?
Also, how common is it that there is no school for kids on Wednesday in France?
Thanks for any advice
Charlie

[Bevdeforges]

If your son is in the public schools, you shouldn't have to pay for kindergarten. No school on Wednesdays seems to be the rule here. A few areas are experimenting with 4-day a week school (i.e. no Saturday mornings at all) and I understand that Saturday morning school will be no more starting in September, 2008 - at least for the maternelle (early grades). The two little girls next door were skeptical when I asked them about this. <g>
Cheers,
Bev

[boitacecile]

If your son goes to the public school, it is free. In France, school starts at 3 years old (you have to be 3 in september at the beginning of the school year and no more nappies).
The children go to school on mondays, tuesdays, thursdays, fridays and saturdays morning. Some school are experiencing a 4-days week (no saturday morning). These schools have less holidays than the rest. But wedenesday is still OFF. Children do sports that day.

The timing are: 8h30-11h and 13h30-16h30. You child can stay at the cantine during lunch time.

The curriculum is as follow:
-Maternelle (kindergarten):from 3 to 5 years old
Petite Section- Moyenne Section- Grande section
-Ecole Primaire (primary school): from 6 to 10 years old
CP-CE1-CE2-CM1-CM2
-College (secondary school): from 11 to 14 years old
Sixieme, Cinquieme, Quatrieme, Troisieme
-Lycee (High School): from 15 to 17 years old
Seconde, Premiere, Terminale
-University: afterward

If your son is 4, he will probabaly be in Maternelle moyenne section.

Hope this helps.
Cecile

[Charlie01]

Thanks for this. Our current plan is to move end of February and get my son used to the kindergarten for a few months before summer holidays. Do you think there will be any problems with him starting mid-year?
We are moving to Poitou Charentes, near Confolens - anybody near?
Thanks for any info
Charlie

[boitacecile]

He is only in Kindergarten so it should not be a problem either for him or the teacher. I am living abroad (australia) and moving back to France for Christmas. My son will start mid-year as well (january), he will be in CE2. Actually, I think it is a great idea to do few months before summer holiday.

I am not form Poitou Charentes, neither is my family so I can't help you out with that.
Good luck with your move.