NURSERY SCHOOL
Nursery school is not compulsory. It is free of charge.
It is intended for French and foreign children who have reached the age of
two by the beginning of the school year and who are physiologically and
psychologically mature enough to cope with school life.
Children who have their second birthday between the beginning of the school
year and the end of the calendar year may be admitted on their birthday provided
that places are available.
You can register your child in a public or private school.
Children stay in nursery school until September of the calendar year in which
they have their sixth birthday.
If there is no nursery school in your municipality and your child is five
years of age, you can register him or her in the infants’ section of the
primary school.
Where to register your child
Contact the town hall of your place of residence to find out in which school
to register your child. You must register your child at the latest by the month
of June preceding the beginning of the school year.
Some municipalities accept registrations earlier.
Contact your town hall.
To obtain a registration certificate, you must produce the following at the
town hall:
- your official family record book;
- a document stating that your child has received the vaccinations that are
compulsory for his/her age group (diphtheria, tetanus, polio and BCG), or
stating that the vaccinations cannot be given.
Since 1 January 2003, you no longer need to provide documents proving your
residence in order to register your child; a declaration is sufficient.
Your child’s registration will be recorded by the headmaster of the school
when you produce:
- the registration certificate issued by the town hall;
- the official family record book;
- a certificate issued by your doctor stating that your child’s health and
physiological maturity are compatible with school life;
- a document stating that your child has received the compulsory
vaccinations.
PRIMARY SCHOOL
School is compulsory from the age of six.
Your child must be registered for primary school by the beginning of the
school year in the calendar year in which he/she is six years old.
Younger children who are ready for primary school education can, however, be
admitted into school.
In which school should you register your child?
If the child was already attending nursery school, he/she is often registered
at the primary school in your local area.
To find out in which school you should register your child, contact the town
hall in your place of residence. If the town hall issues a registration
certificate for a different school from the one you want, you can apply for a
derogation.
Your child is registered by the headmaster/mistress of the primary school.
You must produce the following:
- the registration certificate issued by the town hall;
- your family record book;
- if necessary, a medical certificate that the child is unable to practise
sports.
You must also produce:
- the child’s healthcare record book certifying that he/she has received
the vaccinations that are compulsory at this age (BCG, DT polio, diphtheria,
tetanus and polio);
- where appropriate, the derogation granted to the child.
Your child has never been to nursery school.
Contact the town hall in your place of residence and produce:
- your family record book;
- the child’s healthcare record book certifying that he/she has received
the vaccinations that are compulsory at this age.
Since 1 January 2003, you no longer have to produce documents proving your
place of residence in order to register your child. A declaration is enough.
When should you register your child?
At the latest by the month of June preceding the beginning of the school
year.
Registrations are sometimes accepted very early; contact the school for
information.
If the child is not changing schools in the municipality where you live, you
do not need to renew the registration each year.
For further information, contact:
- the town hall in your place of residence;
- the school inspectorate in your department.
Source: www.Service-Public.fr
Source: European Union
© European Communities, 1995-2005
Reproduction is authorised.
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