Frequently Asked Questions

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How do I register my child?

In order to register for the next school year you should click here (future classes).  Select the appropriate class level for your child and you will view the various date and location options.  Once you have identified the class which suits you best, you need to create an account on the site, and enter your contact details and child information. If the school year has started, you should click here (current classes).

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Is there homework?

Maternelle and CP children do not have homework but we would encourage parents to look at the bespoke workbooks and discuss that week’s topic with the children to reinforce what they have learned.  From CE1 onwards, homework will be given for the week, based on one of the exercise books.  This should take no more than 20/30 minutes.  For those children applying for International Schools at CM2 level, additional homework may be assigned as appropriate in the run up to the entrance exams.

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What are the school’s objectives?

  1. To provide educational stimulation in English, to English-speaking children who live in the Paris area.
  2. To introduce children to the notions of phonics from Moyenne Section onwards, with a more far-reaching approach for children in CP.  This programme is based on Jolly Phonics and our bespoke workbooks.
  3. To support children in their learning of reading, comprehension and writing skills from CE1 onwards.   The programme  is based on the National Curriculum in England and Wales with Cambridge "Global English" and CGP grammar, spelling and punctuation books as support. 
  4. To reinforce the children's exposure to Anglophone culture, through music, story, poetry and literature.
  5. To provide an added source of English outside the home in a structured setting. 
  6. To produce a structured curriculum for each group for that school year.
  7. To prepare children for entrance exams for schools with Anglophone sections.
  8. To cater for children at collège level who wish to remain with RSH.

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What do the children do in the weekly classes?

At Maternelle and CP level, the children concentrate on oral language through song, stories and the bespoke activity workbook.  This looks at themes which the children would see if they were studying in the UK. We also introduce phonics in a very low key way.

From CE1 to CM2, the children work on written English exercise books which look at spelling, grammar and punctuation. They also study themes from Cambridge Global English and creative writing.

Collège students are exposed to poetry, drama and literature appropriate to their level and are encouraged in project work such as newsletters, podcasts etc.

At all levels, language is crucial in the learning process. The children learn about language and also through language. The children learn to communicate and socialise and are exposed to both factual and fictional texts.

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Will my child get into Balzac/Camille See or another International Collège?

We have had a great amount of success with our students in these exams. Every year well over 90% of our students are getting into their first-choice schools, including Massillon, Alsacienne, Sévigné, La Tour, and the international sections in the public schools (Balzac, Camille See, Montaigne, Voltaire, Maurice Ravel). While we cannot guarantee entrance to these schools, working within a structured academic English-speaking environment on a weekly basis definitely improves your child’s chances - especially from an early age. Our Exam Preparation classes, weeklong camps and bootcamps are also great resources to leverage. Lastly, your child must be motivated to learn during our classes and want to join such a school.

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When do the children learn to read?

Children in France learn to read in French in CP.  We have changed our approach to this in recent years. We now introduce phonics gently from Moyenne Section onwards, allowing the children to learn at their own pace. In CP, we look at phonics more deeply. The children have been responding well to this approach since 2016.

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What is the youngest age you will take children?

We take children when they have reached “Moyenne Section” in French schools.  As children are just getting used to the idea of school in “Petite Section”, we feel it is inappropriate to overload their day at such a young age.

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What are the entrance requirements?

Children must have at least one English-speaking parent and therefore be exposed to English on a regular basis.  The only exception we will make to this is a case of a child returning from a minimum of one year in an English-speaking country where they have been educated in English.

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What can we do for children living with two languages?

Roaming Schoolhouse gives parents and children vital help in reinforcing their command of English If you are a native English speaker moving to France, there are some basic rules you may want to adhere to:

  1. If practical, speak only English to your child;
  2. Be consistent in your choice of language to your child. You may need to speak different languages in different situations, but you need to set the rules and stick to them;
  3. Travel as often as possible to a country where English is spoken;
  4. Meet other children and adults who speak English;
  5. Provide structured activities with other children through the medium of English;
  6. Try to use as many age-appropriate language materials as possible in English.

The first three of these rules place emphasis on you as parents. The latter three is where Roaming Schoolhouse comes in. The success of RSH, open only to children living with English and French, is based on three principles:

  1. Qualified primary school teachers who bring youth, enthusiasm and new ideas to the classes of no more than 10 students where only English is spoken. Teaching is a profession, not a job and our teachers are passionate about what they do and the children they teach;
  2. The programme was created in 2006 by the founder Cate O’Connor and is based on the English curriculum and has been developed since then with reference to the National Curriculum in England and Wales;
  3. The atmosphere in the classroom closely resembles that of schools in the UK and the US: we emphasise team-work, show and tell and personal development. We prefer that a child enjoys learning and feels satisfaction at a job well done. For the children, this is an extra-curricular activity and, as such, you do not want it to become a chore.

While living in France, it is only natural for French to become your child’s dominant language. By spending an hour and a half in a structured school environment every week, your child’s English will be reinforced through stories, literature, discussion, music and debate.

We are also a valuable support for those children applying for bilingual school programmes in and around Paris.

RSH operates as a mobile school. We currently host classes of 90 minutes per week in Paris (5th, 7th, 10th, 14th and 18th arrondissements), Neuilly and Antony. Do not hesitate to contact us to find out where centres are opening up near you.

In the French school holidays, we also host camps in Paris. We cover a wide range of activities – sport, drama, arts and crafts, games, creative writing and language development. All these activities are in English and are for children living with English and French.

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What language is spoken in class?

The classes are entirely run in English.

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How many children are in a class?

Each class has a maximum of 10 children based on age.

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Who are the teachers?

The teachers are all qualified, native speakers from a variety of backgrounds.

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What if my class is full?

Perhaps you could consider one of the other locations. Alternatively, if you are aware of other parents in the same area as you, we would be delighted to open up a new class subject to teacher availability.

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 Is the deposit refundable?

If Roaming Schoolhouse is advised by email prior to 1 September that you do not plan to attend classes, the deposit is refundable.

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What books do you recommend?

There are so many, we had to create a separate website!

Our Book Club includes recommendations from students, teachers and parents.

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