Frequently Asked Questions
Preschool and Primary School

Can I enroll my child only in the morning?

Ecole Bilingue Chardin welcomes children on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 8:30 am to 4:15 pm and on Wednesdays, only in the morning until 11:30 am. For 2 and 3 year olds (in Montessori pre-kindergarten and in bilingual preschool), half-day registration is possible. “After-school" workshops are available on Wednesday afternoons and during the vacations for artistic and sports activities.

Are digital tools used at École Bilingue Chardin?

École Bilingue Chardin thus proposes the controlled and measured use of digital technology. It is neither an educational priority nor a taboo subject. It's just a complementary tool, which the children are going to use anyway. In consequence, they have to learn how to use it intelligently.

How many students are in each class?

Class size is one of the four strong pillars on which our educational offer is based. In fact, the maximum capacity of students in a class is 18. Our teachers have the ability to implement the École Bilingue Chardin learning methods thanks to the small class size (between 15 and 18 students for the preschool and elementary levels).

Can children who didn’t attend École Bilingue Chardin preschool still attend the bilingual elementary school?

Yes, this is quite possible. Despite the change in environment, École Bilingue Chardin ensures that children are guided towards adopting the values that we promote. Therefore, new students entering our bilingual elementary school will be able to adapt without any problems.

What is a private school without contract?

École Bilingue Chardin is a private school without a contract. Like all such schools, its opening is conditioned by the rectorat, the Town Hall, and the Prefecture's Agreement. Our bilingual school is under the control of the Ministry of Education (with possible inspections every year). However, it does not benefit from any financial support (unlike private schools under contract).

However, the costs of Ecole Bilingue Chardin are numerous:

• Rent
• Salaries for our teachers and staff
• School and administrative supplies
• Maintenance and operating expenses

The school operates on tuition and registration fees alone.

Why should you choose a Montessori nursery?

The two years old section of the École Bilingue Chardin is the first section that we offer to families. This section is a Montessori nursery and is animated by a Montessori educator who is accompanied in this task by an English-speaking assistant.

The choice of a Montessori nursery allows the child to develop his autonomy, his prehension and to enrich his daily experiences with all the contributions proposed by the class activities.

This program respects the rhythm of the young students and allows them to grow serenely within our establishment.

Does Ecole Bilingue Chardin have a leisure center?

Ecole Bilingue Chardin has a leisure center.

It is open every Wednesday from 11.30am to 6pm and every day from 4.30pm to 6pm. The children are supervised by teachers from the school for artistic and sporting activities in the bilingual nursery school.

Children's rhythms are respected, with breaks and nap times for the youngest children.

Does Ecole Bilingue Chardin require homework in kindergarten ?

There is no homework at the Chardin bilingual nursery school, but parents can be advised about exhibitions and activities.

Parents will also be able to borrow books from the Ecole Bilingue Chardin library.

Does Ecole Bilingue Chardin offer online courses?

The Ecole Bilingue Chardin does not currently offer online courses. Remote devices are provided for the long-term confinement of pupils.

How many kindergarten classes does École Bilingue Chardin have?

Our school has a bilingual kindergarten class. This may change from year to year, so please contact the school directly for information.

What educational games are offered in the bilingual kindergarten at École Bilingue Chardin?

École Bilingue Chardin offers a variety of educational games in bilingual kindergarten, including reading and writing games, math games, language and vocabulary games, construction and manipulation games, color and shape recognition games, and fine motor development games. The fun, interactive activities are designed to stimulate children's curiosity and learning, while fostering their bilingual development.

How is the Montessori "nursery" different from the traditional "nursery"?

The learning methodology of the Montessori Nursery is different from that of the traditional Nursery. The Montessori Nursery uses a learning method developed by Maria Montessori.

The Montessori programme emphasizes learning to work independently and manipulating materials. Pupils are encouraged to choose their own activity and work at their own pace. Unlike traditional nurseries, which generally use a more structured teaching method, with teacher-directed activities.

It is also important to emphasize the difference in the learning environment. Small Montessori sections offer classrooms designed to facilitate and encourage children's discovery, exploration and independence. To achieve this, children have access to a variety of materials and can use their different senses to learn. Traditional small sections tend to have a more traditional environment, with desks and chairs.

The Montessori philosophy is to develop the whole child: the social, emotional and cognitive aspects. That's why the Montessori Nursery is trained to support each child's individual development.
Finally, there is a difference in the way children interact with each other in the Montessori and conventional nursery. In Montessori classrooms, children are encouraged to work together and learn from each other. They are also encouraged to help prepare the classroom and manage their learning environment. In contrast, traditional small sections are essentially teacher-directed, with less interaction between the children.

How important is language learning in the Montessori nursery?

Language learning plays an important role in the teaching methods used in the Montessori nursery section. In Montessori classes, children can develop their language naturally and at their own pace, in a stimulating environment.

There are several ways of approaching language in the Montessori nursery section:

• Vocabulary development: Learning new words through activities such as vocabulary games, songs and stories is encouraged to help children develop their vocabulary.
• Phonics: Thanks to phonics activities in the early years at Ecole Bilingue Chardin, pupils learn to associate sounds with their corresponding letters and to pronounce them correctly.
• Reading: Activities such as reading phonics books and recognising words written on labels are encouraged by the teachers at our school.
• Writing: Through activities such as letter formation and practicing writing simple words, children can improve their skills.
• Communication: Pupils are encouraged to communicate with each other through conversations, role-playing and cooperative activities throughout their time at Ecole Bilingue Chardin.

In conclusion, children in the Montessori Nursery are introduced to language in a natural way, at their own pace, in a stimulating environment where learning is approached holistically.

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