Maternelle...

[bettyspaghetti33]

So after having arrived in Paris we have finally got through the endless paperwork at the mairie!!! to get DD (just turned 4yrs) a place at maternelle. Great news… except when meeting the director for the first time today, he seemed to be of the impression that children can only attend maternelle full time. I told him my DD was not a French speaker and needed time to settle in and would therefore like to only attend in the mornings for now to which I got quite an offensive response, clearly he was not impressed! But I am of the opinion that maternelle is not obligatory by law to attend at all so surely I can use DD's place for part time sessions?

Anyone been in a similar position? Anyone know any ways of dealing with thisk kind of awkwardness?

PetiteRaleuse nonetheless it is true. My DH and I arranged it all with our Maire just this week. The Maire's DD, my good friend, died a bit over a year ago from breast cancer, leaving behind a four year old and a six year old. Perhaps that is the reason he is more understanding about a mom who is terminally ill with a degenerative condition.

I find the French are exactly like the Greeks, they have strict rules and an insane bureaucracy, all of which apply strictly to outsiders. If you are, somehow, deemed to be one of us all rules can be bent.

So glad it's going better Betty! Finding books\films in English and teachers who speakeven a few words in English will be very reassuring for her.

I don't doubt it is true that was Bonsoir.

I know of kids enrolled in two schools where there is garde partagée in divorced parents. There has to be special permission granted iirc.

I was so intrigued that I looked it up. The two-school scenario is fantastically rare! It certainly isn't going to provide any sort of precedent that is useful for the OP!

No it is irrelevant in this case. And yes, v rare, but less so now 50/50 garde partagée is becoming more common.

It's only for maternelle where divorce/separation haven't had a huge impact yet and garde alternee is still pretty unusual. And split schooling is never going to be some kind of standard practice - the disruption for the whole class is a real issue.

Im glad she seems happier OP.

It is hard sending your DC through a system you dont know.

DS struggled at first but has learnt loads of things- like getting dressed and sitting quietly when told to and how to hold a pen properly.

I think its an excellent foundation course, learning how to behave in school before learning to read and write etc.

The maitresse is strict but really cares about the DC.

Goodness sorry PetiteRaleuse, not functioning on all cylinders at the moment!

I didn't mention the case so that the OP could send her child to two different schools, but rather to show that schools can be a lot more flexible in practice than in reality. My friend is a single mum, her child will go to their local school when she is well enough to look after him and to our school when she is not well enough to do so. No one survives Mediterranean style bureaucracies by sticking to the rules in Northern European style, what the French rules say and what the French people are prepared to do are two completely different things. So that suggestion was that OP's school may turn out to be flexible in ways beneficial to her DC if she could get them on her side. As it turns out her DD is doing a lot better so has hopefully adjusted to the change.

My school has been very inflexible for one of DD1's contemporaries about her wanting to take him out on Wednesdays all day for different yet educational activities. When the mum questioned it the headteacher blamed the local inspectrice - I guess that is someone from the LEA.

OP your kid will get used to it - and will gain so much from this. I can't remember if you are in Paris long term?

Paris isn't remotely Mediterranean .

Maternelle has definitely got its plus points - the DC learn a lot of social skills, vocabulary etc. and is very inclusive, by design, giving all DC plenty of time to adjust to the demands of the education system.

We are going to stay permanently PetiteRaleuse

Booboostoo Attending two schools sounds extreme and you make a valid point about Mediterranean style bureaucracy. You only have to look at other countries following the French system and the oppression of people because of it to see how ludicrous it is.

Maybe the French system here in Paris can be 'bent' a little to suit individual circumstances if you know how to play it but like LaPetiteCoccinelle says it is hard enough as a foreigner just trying to through it in the usual way!

Wonderful betty what made you take that decision?

Paris is a beautiful place Petite, DH has family here and we believe France as a whole is more supportive of family life - suits us

Maternelle is the 'jewel' in this country's education system (goes downhill the older the kids get) so I would strongly recommend you enrol your DD and have her go in the mornings only in Petite Section - it's only a few hours and she will learn heaps! Moyenne/Grande Section - all day attendance is compulsory but not eating in the cantine.

My DD (English-speaking) went at 2.9 years, mornings only in Petite Section. She adapted very well indeed (very timid, shy child) and is now in Grande Section and speaking tons of French. I've been really happy (99% of the time) with our experience in both maternelles she has been in.

You definitely cannot pick and choose when you send her. That said, they are pretty relaxed at that age about taking them out of school early for holidays etc.

I lived there for almost ten years betty before moving out to the sticks, I loved it too