slinky kitten

Hi Actually in my experience, all are welcome to the summer schools. My children go to 'summer school' every school holiday whilst I work.  There are no formal lessons but the kids have a great time doing lots of different things - crafts, games, fishing, trips to riding schools, lakes, fishing, ice skating, adventure parks, swimming, cinema etc. The projects are run by the Mairie and so are subsidised.  Our summer school charges 10€ per child per day, which includes all their outings and food. I have a friend who came to stay for two weeks during the summer and her daughter went along with my two kids.  Even her lack of French wasn't a problem.  The co-ordinators normally prefer a bit of notice so that they can ensure their staffing levels are sufficient for extra children but that seems to be the only criteria. So, do make enquiries - summer can be long and very boring for kids with not enough to do - what an excellent way to make new friends and learn the language.  

Hi I have a daughter who, whilst not suffering from Asberger's Syndrome, has psychological and behavioural problems that are very similar. She is now nearly 9 and has been under the care of a psychologist in a unit in Limoges hospital for the last 6 years.  She started with one day a week and now goes in for one workshop.  She is in a normal primary school and has an educational assistant who works with her in the class.  We have case conferences every term with her psychologist, the teaching staff, the educational psychologist, the education officer and the school doctor to assess her progress and determine a way forward. Whilst France does not have a great reputation for caring for autistic children, my own experience of the educational and health systems in regards to my daughter have been fantastic.  The approach of the professionals is very flexible which allows each family to have a greater imput into the treatment and  a better individual approach to the support given. A new regional unit specifically for autistic children has just opened this year in Limoges, with referrals from a wide catchment area, and more specialists than in any other unit in France. I am currently working on a comparative research paper in conjunction with a fellow researcher who works for an American university in London on the  services available in France and the UK for autistic and traumatised children and so far France is coming up roses.  Whilst the UK has the most funding and the reputation for the best practice, there appears to be a high failure rate for service provision within the specialist units and the wider public services. I am obviously keen to hear about your experiences in the UK, and anyone else who has children in difficulty in France and I would be more than willing to discuss this issue with you personally. My final word would have to be - don't put off the move for fear of not being able to meet your son's needs.  The help is there!  

I am starting on a research project looking at the comparative services available for children with learning and/or physical difficulties in France and the UK. I would be interested in hearing from anyone who has had experience of health & education services in France.