Advice on Paris Bilingual Preschool - Starting in New Year?

[MsScarlett99]

Hi,
We are moving to Paris from UK in Dec 2014/Jan 2015 which is not great for school admissions (will be in Paris for 3 years probably). We would like a bilingual school for our 4 yr old (will be going into Grande section).

We are looking at EABJM (full & they recommend applying for CP instead)/EIB Monceau or Lamartine (full but recommend going onto waiting list). We are considering now places that are just preschools and then applying for CP elsewhere in the autumn, as well as schools that go through primary too. I thought about a Montessori just for preschool but people seem to suggest they may not help develop his French so well.

My questions are:

1. Can anyone tell me about/recommend any of these?:
   Bilingual International School of Paris
   Wi School
   Bilingual Montessori School of Paris
   Lennen Bilingual School
   
2. Would the montessori set up of 1 french/1 english teacher mean that bilingual skills take longer to develop?
   
3. Is EIB Lamartine a good choice, Monceau seems to be but may be harder to get a space?
   
4. Would a local state ecole maternal in central Paris work (not sure where living yet) while we apply for CP in a bilingual school from Sept 2015? Are there definite areas to avoid? Husband will be working in the 15th.
   
5. Any other bilingual preschools in central Paris you would recommend?
   
   I would really appreciate any advice on any of these issues. I know there are similar threads that cover EABJM/EAB Monceau but can't find much on the other school. It's so hard to know what to do!

[LillianGish]

At that age I would just go for a French maternelle. Assuming you and dh are both English and speaking English at home this is a great opportunity for your ds to learn French. I think your ds will pick it up more quickly in a French school (where there is no possibility of speaking English) - that's what I did with my kids and it worked just fine. Plenty of time to transfer to a bilingual school when your ds is actually bilingual (unless he/she already is - not clear from your post).

[MsScarlett99]

Thanks for your reply. No he's not bilingual, he's English speaking as are myself and my husband. Do you speak French? Did you manage communication with staff etc OK? Going to learn again myself but I'm very rusty with my O level standard from a long time ago!

[Bonsoir]

I definitely agree with LilianGish - put your DC in the local state maternelle so that he learns French fast and well. In a bilingual school he will struggle to learn French fast enough to enter CP whereas thrown in at the deep end it will be easier in the long term.

And then apply for EAB Monceau (Lamartine is less good for proper bilinguals) and EABJM for CP. You should be OK at Monceau.

[Bonsoir]

The key thing is to move near to EAB Monceau and into the catchment of one of the better local maternelles. The maternelles and primary at rue Laugier/rue de Fourcroy are very popular and there are always quite a few international parents there.

[LillianGish]

I do speak French, but even if you only speak a bit I would still put him in. I think the French maternelles are wonderful places - both my dcs absolutely thrived there. Nothing like the English system, but don't let that put you off, comparisons are pointless and the main thing is your ds will soon be speaking fluent French like a native as he will be learning from natives. Glad Bonsoir has turned up - defer to her in all other matters of French education, bilingual or otherwise. Waves to Bonsoir.

[Bonsoir]

[MsScarlett99]

Thanks for your comments, sounds like the local Ecole Maternelle would be a good idea. Also, less stress now, as well as some time to think about options for CP.