Every parent is looking for a nursery school with a caring environment that will enable their child to develop to the full in complete safety. As soon as a child reaches the age of 3, when education becomes compulsory, parents will need to choose a nursery school. So how do you choose a nursery school?
To make this choice, you first need to identify the different types of school and define your selection criteria.
The different types of nursery school
The first distinction between types of school is between nursery schools public or nursery school private.
Public schools
The schools public are state-run and follow the national education curriculum. They are free, secular and accessible to a large number of children who will have no difficulty joining a state school.
For private nursery schools, there are two forms: under contract and out of contract with the State.
Public schools under contract
Public schools under contract s with the state follow the national education curriculum and, because they are fee-paying, they guarantee a high-quality educational environment with high-quality premises and teaching materials. Public schools also offer a wider range of curricular and extra-curricular activities.
Non-contractual public schools
Finally, public schools out of contract They are not part of the French education system and often follow their own curriculum. Although they are more expensive because they are not state-funded, non-contracted public schools are subject to controls that guarantee the quality and standard of education.
A distinction is then made between bilingual schools. Some schools, whether state or private, offer bilingual education. In this type of school, children are taught in two languages, enabling them to learn a second language from an early age. This teaching is more or less immersive, depending on the school. It encourages open-mindedness and develops the child's curiosity through the discovery of another culture and by speaking and hearing another language while still learning the mother tongue.
The main (personal) criteria to take into account to help your child flourish
- Children's well-being: all children should be able to develop their full potential and take advantage of the school environment to grow and socialise with other children.
- Children's safety: in the school during breaks, lunches, lessons and after school.
- The quality of teaching: so that they can continue their school career in the best possible conditions and so that they have all the keys they need to progress to the next levels.
- The team of teachers: who must be caring and well-trained to supervise and support all pupils in the best possible way.
- The cost of the school: which guarantees high-quality facilities and varied activities to enable pupils to discover leisure and other cultural activities.
- Proximity to home or work of parent(s).
- Facilities adapted not only to accommodate all the children but also to enable them to take part in activities within the school.
- The pedagogical project must be adapted to each child, as it is essential to take into account the particularities of all children so that they can flourish in their learning.
