You have already noticed the pandemonium whenever the French mention the word ‘rentrée’ (start of new school year). The beauty is that after the do nothing time of July and August the hum and animation of practical life returns to France.

You may be surprised when you get the list for supplies and books, but French schools do not provide all school materials. You will not need to purchase many things but as they begin to progress in school expect to provide anything from pencils and crayons to textbooks. When your child gets to secondary school (college) or high school (lycée) the costs be a big expense.

Why the pandemonium at the beginning of September, in most cases you are not given the list of items required until the first week of school!

Common school items
 L’agenda – diary for homework
 Les ciseaux – scissors
 Le classeur – ring binder
 La colle – glue stick
 Le compas - compass
 Les Crayons – coloured crayons and pencils
 L’équerre - set square
 La gomme – eraser or rubber
 Le règle – ruler
 Le scotch – scotch tape
 Les Stylos – red, black, green and blue
 La taille-crayon – pencil sharpener
 La trousse – pencil case, larger the better to fit set square in
 Plastic covers for workbooks and text books. Sometimes teachers give these out so that subjects are color-coded.
 Shoes – a separate pair of clean-soled tennis shoes for the gymnasium
 A backpack that can hold size A4 books.

Day Care Centers and Nurseries A crèche (c) is a state-run nursery for children between the ages of 4 months and 3 years old. Every district (arrondissement) has a certain number of crèches which are reserved for the children living in that area. The monthly cost is based on family revenue. Both parents must be working full-time in order to qualify.

An halte-garderie (h/g)is a half-day day care center for young children beginning at four months until 3 years old. Monthly cost is based on family revenue.

Babysitters Les Enfants d’Abord www.les enfantsdabord.fr

Allo Nounous 04.72.91.66.30 www.allo-nounous.com