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Etre et Découvrir Ecole International Bilingual Montessori School

France, Paris

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The school at a glance
Instructs in French, English
Fees €5,200 - 7,350
Ages 2 - 12 years
Type Co-educational
Opened 1986
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum Montessori Curriculum
Taught languages French, English
Strengths Outdoor Education, Languages, Academic Enrichment
Clubs Cultural and Language, Community and Service, Lifestyle and Wellbeing
Stages Infant/Toddler Care, Early Years, Primary School
Introduction

Être et Découvrir is a non-profit international Montessori school located on the private grounds of the Château de Saint-Nom-la-Bretèche, west of Paris. Founded in 1986, it serves children aged 2 to 12 across three Montessori programs: Toddler Community (2–3.5 years), Children's House (3–6 years), and Elementary School (6–12 years). The school operates in two buildings (Cottage and Orangerie) with purpose-built spaces for reading, mathematics, language, geography, science, art and music, plus a library and a music room offering private piano and violin lessons. Classes are bilingual in English and French, with teaching teams that foster independence, self-confidence and problem-solving. The elementary curriculum supports entry to French collèges and bilingual or international secondary options. The campus features pedagogical gardens, small class sizes, and Eco-Ecole certification, emphasizing hands-on learning and nature-based activities. As a not-for-profit association, parent involvement is encouraged, and the school is affiliated with the Association Montessori de France. It is near Versailles and La Défense and prioritizes a multicultural bilingual environment.

13 Bis Rue Lecoq, 78860 Saint-Nom-la-Bretèche, France

The Essentials

Etre et Découvrir Ecole International Bilingual Montessori School has instruction in French, English.

Stages
Preschool and Primary (Montessori bilingual)

Type
Non-profit international Montessori school

Country affiliation
France
Diving Deeper

Food Options
100% organic three-course lunches are delivered by an organic caterer; families may also provide their own lunch in a lunchbox or a pre-heated lunch in a thermos.

Governance and Ownership
The school is run as a 1901 not-for-profit association, privately funded by families and donors with no government subsidies. The Board of Governors is composed of volunteer administrators who are current or former parents, and major decisions are discussed at the annual general assembly. The school is located at 13 bis, rue Lecoq, Parc du Château, 78860 Saint-Nom-la-Bretèche, Yvelines. It has SIRET number 342 187 747 00049 and RNA number W783000551 and is a member of the Association Montessori de France (AMF).
Fees

Annual tuition at Etre et Découvrir Ecole International Bilingual Montessori School ranges from EUR 5,200 to EUR 7,350 for 2026/27.

Application and registration fees
- Entry fee (first year only, per child): EUR 650. Fees are payable upon enrolment and are non-refundable.
- Annual membership / association registration fee (per child): EUR 630. This annual contribution covers Montessori materials and school supplies and is payable on enrolment; it is non-refundable.

Tuition fees (standard day programme)
- Billing basis: Tuition is collected by monthly direct debit over 10 months (SEPA direct debit); meals and after-school care are not included in the tuition amounts. Equivalent annual and per-term figures are shown below (annual = monthly × 10; per-term = annual ÷ 3).

- Toddler community (ages 2–3½, 08:50–11:45)
- Monthly: EUR 520
- Annual (10 months): EUR 5,200
- Per term (annual ÷ 3): EUR 1,733.33

- Children's House (ages 3–6, half day, 08:40–13:00)
- Monthly: EUR 580
- Annual (10 months): EUR 5,800
- Per term (annual ÷ 3): EUR 1,933.33

- Children's House (ages 3–6, full day, 08:40–15:45)
- Monthly: EUR 735
- Annual (10 months): EUR 7,350
- Per term (annual ÷ 3): EUR 2,450.00

- Elementary (ages 6–12, 08:30–16:00)
- Monthly: EUR 735
- Annual (10 months): EUR 7,350
- Per term (annual ÷ 3): EUR 2,450.00

Family discounts (siblings)
- Discount rules: -10% for the second registered child; -20% for the third (and subsequent) registered child. The school publishes sibling monthly rates as follows.

- Toddler community (2–3½):
- Second child monthly: EUR 470 — Annual: EUR 4,700 — Per term: EUR 1,566.67
- Third (and subsequent) child monthly: EUR 420 — Annual: EUR 4,200 — Per term: EUR 1,400.00

- Children's House (3–6, half day):
- Second child monthly: EUR 525 — Annual: EUR 5,250 — Per term: EUR 1,750.00
- Third child monthly: EUR 465 — Annual: EUR 4,650 — Per term: EUR 1,550.00

- Children's House (3–6, full day):
- Second child monthly: EUR 665 — Annual: EUR 6,650 — Per term: EUR 2,216.67
- Third child monthly: EUR 595 — Annual: EUR 5,950 — Per term: EUR 1,983.33

- Elementary (6–12):
- Second child monthly: EUR 665 — Annual: EUR 6,650 — Per term: EUR 2,216.67
- Third child monthly: EUR 595 — Annual: EUR 5,950 — Per term: EUR 1,983.33

After-school care and optional services
- After-school care (annual commitment, 36 weeks). Annual fee billed by monthly direct debit over 10 months; up to 50% of these fees may be tax-deductible for children under 6 (tax rules apply separately).
- 1 day/week (fixed)
- Until 17:00 — Annual: EUR 300 (≈ EUR 8.33 per session)
- Until 17:40 — Annual: EUR 500 (≈ EUR 13.88 per session)
- 4 days/week
- Until 17:00 — Annual: EUR 1,050 (≈ EUR 7.29 per session)
- Until 17:40 — Annual: EUR 1,750 (≈ EUR 12.15 per session)

- On-demand after-school care (48 hours booking notice)
- Per session (charged monthly by direct debit):
- Until 17:00 / 15:45–17:00 — EUR 10 per session
- 15:45–17:40 — EUR 17 per session.

- Organic catering (meals): EUR 8 per meal. Meals are billed by monthly direct debit; meal prices are set by the catering partner and may fluctuate.

Boarding
- Boarding is not applicable; this is a day school for children aged 2–11.

Other costs and typical extras
- School materials and routine classroom supplies are covered in part by the annual membership fee (EUR 630). No separate uniform fee is listed among the published charges; meals, after-school care, and optional activities are additional and charged as detailed above.

Refunds and non-refundable items
- Entry fee (EUR 650) and annual membership/registration fee (EUR 630) are non-refundable. No other specific refund rules are published in the fee schedule provided.

Billing schedule and payment terms
- Standard tuition: monthly SEPA direct debit over 10 months, with the first direct-debit cycle commencing in August (collections begin from 20 August). Meals and after-school are charged separately (monthly direct debit). Entry and membership fees are payable at enrolment by bank transfer or cheque. Optional services with annual commitment are billed by monthly direct debit over 10 months.

Accepted payment methods
- SEPA direct debit (monthly tuition, after-school and catering), bank transfer, and cheque for enrolment payments.
Academics

Etre et Découvrir Ecole International Bilingual Montessori School teaches Montessori Curriculum for students aged 2 to 12.

Curriculum
Montessori education across three age groups: Toddler Community (2-3 1/2 years), Children's House (3-6 years), and Elementary School (6-12 years). Classes are bilingual in English and French, taught by an experienced teaching team. In the elementary years, students learn in both languages and prepare for entry to secondary schools, including French collèges and bilingual or international options. The school operates in two buildings on the private grounds of the Château de Saint-Nom-la-Bretèche, with a pedagogical garden and dedicated spaces for reading, mathematics, language, geography, science, art, and music. It maintains an Eco-Ecole label and emphasizes small class sizes to provide personalized attention.

Student Teacher Ratio
Small class sizes ensure personalised attention.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
The school fosters holistic development within a nurturing, multicultural, bilingual French-English environment. A dedicated team of French- and English-speaking educators adheres to the Montessori philosophy, supporting academic and social growth. Students are encouraged to explore their potential, build self-confidence, develop independence, and enhance problem-solving skills. Small class sizes provide personalised attention and enable close relationships with educators. The school maintains a family-friendly atmosphere and collaborates with parent member families to ensure every child enjoys their school experience and develops a lifelong love of learning.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
The school teaches in both English and French; students learn in English and French in the elementary years within a Montessori-inspired environment, preparing them for secondary school in bilingual settings. The teaching team includes both Francophone and Anglophone educators.

Mental Wellbeing
The school supports mental wellbeing through a nurturing, inclusive environment and strong collaboration with families. It emphasizes self-confidence, independence, and social development as part of its Montessori approach, and maintains a warm, family-friendly atmosphere with regular events and activities that foster community.

Safeguarding
The school is registered with the Academy of Versailles under number 0783701Z and is regularly inspected by the National Education Services. It is a member of the Association Montessori de France.
Parent Experience

History
Founded in 1986, Être et Découvrir is a bilingual, non-profit international Montessori school and one of the oldest in Les Yvelines (78). It is located on the private estate grounds of the Château de Saint Nom la Bretèche, west of Paris. The school welcomes children aged 2 to 11 and offers three levels: Montessori Toddler Community (2–3½ years), Montessori Children's House (3–6 years), and Montessori Elementary School (6–12 years). A dedicated team of French- and English-speaking educators follows the Montessori philosophy to foster holistic development, independence, self-confidence, and problem-solving, in a nurturing, multicultural bilingual environment with gardens on the château grounds. The school is a member of the Association Montessori de France.

Community
The school maintains a family-friendly atmosphere and collaborates closely with parent member families to ensure every child enjoys their school experience and develops a lifelong love of learning. The calendar features numerous events throughout the year, including Christmas choirs and end-of-year shows, a family sports day and picnic, carnival day, peace day, and 100 days of school. Celebrations such as Galette des rois, St Patrick's Day, and Chandeleur are observed, along with Music Day and a giant Easter egg hunt in the gardens.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
Be and Discover International Bilingual Montessori School is located on the private estate grounds of the Château de Saint-Nom-la-Bretèche, west of Paris. The chateau grounds include pedagogical gardens where children can harvest cherries and apples in season. The school offers three programs: Montessori Toddler Community (2–3½ years), Montessori Children's House (3–6 years), and Montessori Elementary School (6–12 years) in two Children's House classrooms (Cottage and Orangerie) and a Montessori Elementary School. It provides a bilingual French–English environment with language materials in both languages, and small class sizes to ensure personalized attention. The English/French program and facilities support students as they prepare for secondary school, with proximity to Versailles (about 25 minutes) and La Défense (about 40 minutes).

Sports Facilities
The Cottage children's garden has a synthetic surface to improve safety and reduce mud. The outdoor playground area includes a herb garden and equipment for sport (balls, hula hoops, cones, bicycles, and more). The elementary years have an outdoor materials area for sport and physical education, including mini football goals. The school also benefits from the nearby Mareil-Marly forest for nature-based activities.

Academic Facilities
The school includes two Montessori Children's House classrooms (Cottage and Orangerie) for 3–6 year olds and a teaching environment for 6–12 year olds. The Elementary School classrooms include French/English/Mathematics and Numeracy/Geometry, and History, Science/Geography and Art spaces. A Library area and a Music room (with private piano and violin lessons available) are provided. Outdoor pedagogical gardens with fruit trees and a playground area support learning, along with an outdoor materials area for sport and physical education. The English classroom introduces bilingual work, with English and French language materials used across subjects.

Extra Curricular Facilities
The school organizes numerous events throughout the year, including Christmas choirs and end-of-year shows. There are parent events such as a family sports day and picnic. Additional activities include Carnival day, Peace Day, 100 days of school, Galette des rois, St Patrick's Day, Chandeleur (Pancake Day), Music Day, and a large Easter egg hunt. The school also offers Wednesday activities.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
The elementary program is bilingual, with instruction in English and French. This dual-language education prepares students for secondary school, including French and international bilingual secondary schools. The Montessori philosophy guides the school's approach to academic and social growth.

Arts & Creative
The school celebrates Christmas choirs and end-of-year shows. Music day and other celebrations are part of annual events. There is a giant Easter egg hunt in the gardens each April. Cultural celebrations include Carnival Day, Peace Day, 100 days of school, Galette des rois, St Patrick's Day, and Chandeleur.

Cultural & Language
The school provides a bilingual French-English environment. It welcomes children from all origins and cultures. The elementary program is bilingual in English and French. Cultural celebrations include St Patrick's Day, Galette des rois, Carnival Day and Chandeleur.

Social & Hobbies
Wednesday activities in English are offered with the SAME Club. Our Wednesday and holiday clubs are organized with the SAME Club. There are family events such as a family sports day and picnic. Carnival day and other celebrations involve students in social activities.

Community & Service
The school is run as a not-for-profit association. The enrollment of a child makes the family a member of the association. Parents participate in volunteer activities and groups to support school life, with tasks such as organizing events and gardening. Family members are encouraged to contribute to school maintenance and activities each term.

Leadership & Professional
The school is run as a not-for-profit association. The board of governors is composed of volunteer administrators, including current and former parents. Major decisions are discussed by members during the annual general assembly. The board includes positions such as President, Secretary, Treasurer and Vice-treasurer.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
Lunch is 100% organic and consists of three courses delivered by an organic caterer, with the option to bring lunch in a thermos. Children enjoy pedagogical gardens on the Château grounds, where they can pick cherries and apples in season. There is playground time in the children's garden near a local forest. The school earned the Eco-Ecole label in France.
Languages

Language Provision
The school operates in a bilingual French-English environment. In the elementary school, students learn in both English and French within a Montessori-inspired setting. This dual-language education prepares students for secondary school, including 6ème at French or international bilingual secondary schools. The school welcomes children from ages 2 to 11 and offers three levels: Montessori Toddler Community (2 - 3 1/2 years), Montessori Children's House (3 - 6 years), and Montessori Elementary School (6 - 12 years).

Bilingual Teaching
The school teaches in English and French.

Immersion Programs
The school offers bilingual education in English and French.
Admissions

Admissions
The school is Be and Discover International Bilingual Montessori School. It operates as a private, independent international bilingual Montessori school. It is run as a not-for-profit association (loi 1901) with a board of governors made up of current and former parents.

Scholarships
-

Waitlist
Enrolment may occur during the school year subject to space availability.
School Events
The school has not added events
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