Another Paris schools question -- looking for a gentle school!

[talktalktalkallthetime]

Hello! We are moving to Paris for one year for my sabbatical and are all very excited about it. I have two DCs, 6 and 8.

I'm really not sure what to do for school! Chucking them into local school is not an option from what I've heard about French schools. They speak only a little French (we are English), so I thought a bilingual school would be good -- but the ones I've seen (Lennen and Kingsworth) are so crazy expensive that though we could technically afford to pay for one year, it just doesn't seem worth it.

All English schools are also really expensive and it also sort of seems -- what's the point of living Paris is surrounded by English all the time?

My latest idea is a really gentle all French school where they could actually learn French. I've heard mixed reviews of this idea I know people who have done that and thought it was terrific/kids loved it and others who say it was too hard for just one year. Not worried about keeping up French on return home that's a problem I'd look forward to having.

So any ideas? Esp. of gentle French, maybe Montessori schools in Paris? We haven't found housing yet but will once we've sorted the school.

(Have also posted on Facebook forums and joined Message but often I find mumsnet so good at these things.)

Hi,

no personal experience of the school, but you may wish to have a look at:

ecoleaujourdhui.com

There are plenty of bilingual Montessori schools, I think if you do a search you will find plenty of information. My son went to the Bilingual Montessori School of Paris at Quai d'Orsay a few years ago - we were happy with it at the time, but I've heard that the school was having problems, especially at the elementary level.

Good luck!

Funny enough, someone JUST recommended this school to me today and I had not come across it before. Looks lovely, and thank you!

There is also a European School in Paris that opened recently (to cater for the European Agencies moving here post Brexit :-) ). Probably a long shot as EU employees have priority but may be worth a try - It's a public (state) school, so no fees:

www.ee-parisladefense.ac-versailles.fr/en/

Thank you so much @mslulukat -- hadn''t heard of that one!

Which arrondissement will you be living in?

We are still figuring housing out -- our best option is the 5th, but we're willing to switch gears for the right school. Thanks!

My son is at Malherbe International school in Le Vésinet- the western suburbs of Paris. It’s a Montessori nursery/primary/bilingual school and would fit your bill. It has a self funding option for fees - around €16k.

Otherwise, you could consider Ermitage in Maisons Lafitte. Sous contrat so fees are much cheaper.

Choose the school first, then be guided by that when sorting rental out. The western suburbs are lovely. Le Vesinet is only 17 mins by RER into Paris.