French nurseries or childminders in North London

[Gangle]

We're expecting our first baby in early April - DH is 1/2 French, I am 1/4 French and we both want the baby to be bilingual in English and French and think the best way to do this is for the baby to attend a French nursery or childminder yet we're having real trouble finding any French nurseries in North London (we're in Crouch End) - they all seem to be in Kensington or South London. Does anyone know of a French nursery or childminder in North London that they can recommend?

Thanks!

Gangle

hiya I'm going back about 12 years but there was a nursery in Tremlett Grove N19 back then. I can't remember the name of it or anything but maybe you can use the road name as a starting point?

thanks FBH - just googled it and still seems to be there. Was it a French nursery?

I don't remember if it was French or offered some French language sessions but the Frenchness has stuck in my mind in relation to it for some reason. I do remember that it looked lovely and cosy but at the time too expensive for me (they didn't have tax credits and those things back then)

Sorry I can't be more help

Would a French au pair be an option? Also, does either of you speak French at a native level? If so could you not simply do the OPOL?

possibly but we're not sure about having someone live in, would be too weird! DH speaks fluent French (is bilingual) and I speak basic French but wouldn't want the baby picking up any tips from me!! What is OPOL?

One Person One Language. It's what we do. My DP speaks to DD exclusively in Italian and I speak exclusively in English. DD then separates the languages out into "mummy" language and "Daddy" language. It is tiring at first and you do have to be consistent but it does work. My DD now understands and speaks both and knows who speaks what when we visit relatives. You obviously have French relatives, are grandparents nearby? Also, buy lots of books, CDs and DVDs in French.

You really needn't go to the expense and hassle of finding a French nursery. It can be done at home.

really? Does that work even though I will be the main carer and DH will only see the baby in the evenings and weekends? Is a French nursery or carer really not necessary? Great news if not! How old is your DD? No grandparents that near but the French grandparents tend to visit at least once a month.

Sorry, had to go get DD from nursery then dinner etc.

It all depends on how much your DH will interact with the child. If it's only half an hour a day and at weekends he'd rather be on the computer then it might be difficult, but if he intends to be quite hands on and is willing to spend time on a bit of one to one at weekends then it's perfectly feasible.

I was the main carer with my DD until she was 9mo when i went back to work, then she had a nanny who spoke neither Italian nor English very well. At 15mo she went to full time nursery (Italian) and I'd say I get about 2.5 hours a day with her from picking her up to bedtime, as well as the half hour getting ready in the mornings, plus about 50% of the time at weekends. All the rest of the time she hears Italian, so yes, it is her dominant language, but she understands English perfectly and can express fairly well and it's improving all the time. I do try to travel to the UK at least twice a year, plus we often have relatives to stay, which actually helps more as she has to make more effort to speak English and can't get away with speaking Italian.

Monthly visits from your DC's French grandparents will work wonders, I'd love monthly visits from mine. Can you not pop over to France yourself from time to time as well? I would imagine that as they get older (my DD is only 2.6) seeing the language in a local context might also help.

You do have to be patient, I know I was beginning to despair my DD would never say more than her stock 10 words in English but now it's all tumbling out.