We signed up the Bambina for a scuola materna (statale) in September. We have not heard anything from them since March when we received confirmation of her admission (incidentally, who knew that just getting one's child admitted to a public kindergarten would be such a big deal - point system and all).

I called the school last week and was told that they would phone us for the first parents' meeting. I find this kind of weird. Why don't they mail out a letter to everyone? And when should we expect to hear from them? Beginning of September?

Sounds normal to me. If you know you have a place, they have said they will call about the parents meeting and, presumably, you know when school starts, I wouldn't worry about it!

Er, perhaps I should clarify. I guess I was thinking that it might be good to know ahead of time exactly WHEN the school year starts and how many days we should plan for the inserimento period, for example. A list of school supplies would be good to have before September begins, too, so that we can buy them before the rush. I don't know, maybe just the Anglo Saxon in me or maybe I have become to used to living in France, where the public schools are able to give you all this information before September.

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I called the school last week and was told that they would phone us for the first parents' meeting.

I think if they told you this then you will be ok. Remember that the schools are finishing now for the summer (if they haven't done already), and I have a feeling that they might prefer to deal with admissions in September.

It's a great idea to call and ask when school starts anyway. This you have to know! I could never be finding that out in September, I'd have to know before.

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before September

You still have two months until September.

My daughter's school starts 10th September. I'm guessing most will be around then. There maybe a summer school going on anyway at your daughter's school so why not just ring and ask for the date? I'm surprised you didn't ask/were given it when you signed her up.

I don't think you are being Anglo-Saxon as this seems very normal to me as long as you have the start date. Is this her first school or just first outside France? English schools are pretty uncommunicative until just before school starts too.

I did ask when the start date would be but the person would not tell me. Just said that we would be getting a phone call and that there would be a meeting for all parents in early September. I would also like to know the duration of the inserimento period as I understand that this period can be a few weeks or even a month long and would like to know ahead of time so that I can plan accordingly re work and childcare arrangements. But evidently we are not to find out about this either until the meeting in September. Another parent I know had her parents' meeting for her son's school a week ago, which makes more sense to me.

This will be my daughter's first school experience. In Paris, there is an organization of some 1500 English-speaking families (with internet forum, book called the ABCs of Parenting in Paris, support services, etc.), so you become familiar with how the institutions work pretty quickly there, even if your child is not attending school yet.

I think Giulia over at From Head to Boot wrote about the fact that for her kids, who are at public school in Italy, there was no set date for the end of school this year. Maybe it's the same for the first day of school too? It sounds like they just chose whichever day suits them and they have no problems changing that at the last minute.

No, I would say not telling the starting date for school in September is just weird! I have my start date and most people here know theirs, plus most of the schools have finished or are in the process of finishing.

Do they have teacher training days here? In the UK we call them INSET days, where the school is open and the teachers are there but without the kids so they can familiarise? Maybe they
haven't set theirs yet and this is why no date? Otherwise just sounds like plain awkwardness - not the best way to start in a new school!

Just realised this is public not private - call the comune responsible for this particular school - they should have all the information you need. In March did you go straight to the school or through the comune? Here in Florence you approach the public schools through the comune office for that area and they tell you where has places etc. so I would think they can help better than the school.

We finally received a letter last week. School starts 17 September for the newbies. That's late! Now we just have to decide (finally!) whether we will actually be sending her to this school or not!

I guess this thread should be moved to Education. Can someone do that?

I have crossposted it, since the thread has been here for quie a long time.