Schooling Your Child in France: Enrolment, System, Language.

Start with JARI.

Enrolling your child in school in France when you arrive from Korea raises many questions: which level, where to register, which documents, and how to help a child who doesn't speak French yet? JARI's Professional Services guide you through enrollment, building the file (with translations), and accessing language-support programs.

The French school system.

• Maternelle (ages 3-6): compulsory from age 3 since 2019.
• Élémentaire (ages 6-11): from CP to CM2.
• Collège (ages 11-15): from 6e to 3e, ends with the brevet.
• Lycée (ages 15-18): general, technological, or vocational, ends with the bac.

Public school is free and secular. The school year runs from September to early July.

Where and how to enroll.

1. For maternelle and élémentaire: register at the town hall (mairie) of your commune (under the school-zoning map, the school depends on your address), then finalize at the school.
2. For collège and lycée: placement usually goes through the Éducation nationale services (rectorat / DSDEN).
3. Usual documents: proof of address, family record book or birth certificate, up-to-date health/vaccination record, and ID. Some Korean documents will need to be translated.

Public or private?

Public is free. Private under contract (often faith-based) follows the same curriculum for a fee. There are also international / bilingual schools, more expensive, useful if you're planning a short stay.

If your child doesn't speak French: UPE2A.

Schools welcome non-French-speaking children through UPE2A programs (teaching units for newly arrived allophone pupils): the child attends a regular class while getting intensive French lessons. Children usually learn very fast. Flag the situation at enrollment.

Daily school life.

• The canteen (lunch) is paid, often priced according to your income.
• Périscolaire (before/after-school care, Wednesdays, leisure centers) helps balance work and school hours.
• Supplies, outings, parent-teacher meetings: follow the home-school notebook and the ENT (digital workspace).

Get support.

Understanding the placement level, gathering and translating documents, obtaining language support: entrust the enrollment file to JARI's Professional Services for a smooth start, with no errors or delays.

Going further.

Find the whole picture in Family life in France, financial aid in CAF allowances & benefits (including the ARS), and childcare options for the youngest.

Useful links.

• education.gouv.fr
• service-public.fr — inscription à l’école
• monenfant.fr