Maternelle (Kindergarten)

Maternelle (Kindergarten) lasts three years and prepares children for ‘big school’ by building on their early education in the home.

The first Maternelle class is 14ème (or ‘petite section’, 3-4 years) and accepts children for the full day if they are 3 years old by 31 December of the year of entry.

In 13th grade (or ‘moyenne section’), activities focus on developing the children’s motor skills as well as their interpersonal skills and intellectual curiosity.

We aim to provide a happy and welcoming environment so that the children will feel confident and enjoy school. The sense of community is based on respect, politeness and friendship.

In 12th grade (or ‘grande section’), children begin to read and write using a range of letter forms in addition to cursive. They further their understanding of numbers, following the French programme. They develop their language skills by increasing their vocabularies and improve their written work by more attention to accuracy.

Throughout Maternelle (Kindergarten), we alternate tasks which develop basic skills with educational play (lotto, dominos, jigsaws and construction), manual activities (drawing, colouring, painting and sewing) and musical activities (singing and using rhythm) as well as learning the first few words of English.

The children are invited to think about the major Christian festivals and important events in daily life as part of the first steps in religious belief.