Marie-Clare

Can anyone give me any information on the process of applying for a french student grant for next year. He is in his final year of lycée and wanting to continue to engineering studies at either university or one of the écoles d'ingénieurs?

Just to add to the information on teenagers moving into the French education system. My son moved from England last July after taking  his GCSE exams and went into première in sciences. He has finished this first year with a good mark for going into terminale.He has just had the result of the French literature and language bac which he had to take at the end of the year and he has passed this as well. I wouldn't for a second say it has been easy for him as he has worked extremely hard but I did just want to say that it is possible to do it as a lot of the information I read on the education forum before we moved was very negative about moving teenagers. To put things into context he spoke very good French before we moved but still had a huge amount to do on his written work. He has integrated extremely well but did have a lot of good friends locally before we moved and he himself wanted to move to France.

I would advise anyone bringing children to France from England to come equipped with sufficient English texts to keep the children fluent in written as well as spoken English. Given the high unemployment rates for young people and the bias towards employing French nationals if this is the case then it is all the more important  to give  children every possible advantage. It is hard to fit in the time to do extra English homework as well as the homework the children are getting from school but it is possible. Exposure to French when they have mastered the basics started an interest in other languages with my 8 and 10 year old. I have found it a good time to introduce them to a bit of Spanish. There isn't much time left for television or computer games but I see that as an advantage.

We have now been here a year - children were 7,9 and nearly 17 when we moved. French schools are very different but you wouldn't expect anything else. I think if you can both speak, read and understand French well it is invaluable. The first two terms were very hard work for me as well as the children as they need a lot of help with the huge amount of home work they get. All of them have got good marks at the end of the year and do not have to repeat their first year at French school and they have all integrated well. I would go along and see the school for your older boy and judge for yourself. Also I came out armed with enough English grammar, comprehension and literature books to keep the younger two up to a good level of English language to GCSE standard. It has all been hard work but none of us have any regrets.

Thank you for the prompt reply I will contact Newcastle about sending the E121 to her address. It is good news about the possibility of "mutuelle" top up if required. I will investigate this with our insurance company once I get things underway with Newcastle. Thanks again M-C

Thanks for all the suggestions and sorry not to reply sooner we had a lightening strike last week and the computer has just been repaired. Thanks again M-C

I would appreciate any advice on what I need to sort out for my elderly mother to come to live in France. She currently has regular nursing visits from the community nurses to dress leg ulcers and has carers who help support her at home coming in three times a day as well as daily visits from family. She is on regular medication and is in receipt of attendance allowance at present.  I can investigate the supervision of her medical condition out here as I am a nurse and will not need carer support as I am at home but would be grateful to know about what paperwork I need to get from Newcastle and what sort of time scale  I am looking at. I have seen a few postings which have said that it will be impossible to get Mutuelle top up (she is in her 90's) but am unsure if there is anything else I can do to cushion the financial implications for her. I also assume that she will no longer get attendance allowance. Any help will be much appreciated. Thanks Marie-Clare  

I went looking for a compost bin this morning and was amazed at the price - 82 euros for a standard domestic sized one. Can anyone advise on anywhere which has one cheaper. Also where is the best place to get compost until I get mine up and running. I am in 45. Thanks Marie-Clare  

We have just moved to France within the last couple of months and have three of our four children starting at school this week. I mentioned your worries to my 16 year old who has just finished his GCSE s in England and is switching to the first year of a Science Bac. He has made very good friends with a lot of the local young people over our holidays in the last three or four years and although he speaks the language well will obviously have a lot of workto do on the written side. He felt that it will be hard for your daughter but was anxious to pass on the message that his experience of life here is that the young people are very inclusive and he is looking forward to starting lycee. We both hope it all works out well for you all.