Schools in France after May 11

Almost 90% of French primary schools are ready to reopen from Monday, the prime minister has said.

It is hoped that most of the remaining ones will reopen in the following week.

Teachers will be returning to school on Monday and the children on Tuesday.

Nonetheless, there will be restrictions – at any one time there should be no more than 15 children per class in école élementaire and 10 at maternelle (the youngest children).

Other children may be able to do personal study with supervision, where this is feasible, or attend facilities for extracurricular activities such as sport and culture.

Others may continue to learn at a distance from home, either part or full-time.

Parents will have the choice to continue to keep children at home if they wish.

Schools will be able to prioritise certain children for attendance at school, such as disabled children, children of health or other workers considered vital to the economy or parents who have no childcare options; also those identified as at risk of falling behind in their schooling.

Parents must be informed by schools and mairies this week as to how things will work locally.

In secondary schooling, distance learning will continue this month, but collèges (first years of secondary) are expected to reopen from May 18 in departments classed as green.

Lycées may reopen in June, depending on a reassessment at the end of May.

Related stories:

Deconfinement in France: PM details plan

Deconfinement in France: schools and transport plan

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