These Little Things That Make Parents’ Lives Easier
At the Alternative International School of Angers, we know that a child’s school experience extends far beyond the classroom — it’s also shaped by the many moments that fill family life.That’s why we’ve put in place small, thoughtful touches each day, designed to lighten parents’ mental load and help children feel calm and secure. 🚗 Safe and Convenient Drop-off From the moment you arrive in the morning, everything is designed for a smooth and stress-free start to the day.The school has a private car park with an automatic gate, accessible with a family-only badge.A real comfort that saves time and helps everyone begin the day peacefully. 🖼 Learning to Share Their Day We know it’s not always easy for young children to tell their parents what they did at school.To encourage this, even our youngest pupils are invited each week to bring a photo from their weekend.In class, they present it to their friends and learn to put their experiences into words.This simple habit strengthens language skills — and makes after-school conversations much easier at home. 📚 Notebooks to Stay Connected Two communication books accompany families throughout the year: A class notebook (in French and English) with photos and short stories illustrating the group’s activities each week; An individual notebook collecting the child’s daily work and creations. These practical tools help parents follow their child’s progress and encourage meaningful exchanges at home. ⏰ Schedules That Fit Family Life Our school timetable is designed to suit different family rhythms: Flexible childcare from 8:00 a.m. to 6:15 p.m.; Staggered start times — 9:00 a.m. for younger children, 8:30 a.m. for older ones —so everyone can settle in smoothly and younger pupils receive the support they need. 🍴 A Real On-site Canteen Not all independent schools offer a meal service — and we know how challenging that can be for parents.At AISA, children enjoy freshly prepared, balanced lunches every day: a chance to discover new flavors, and a relief for families’ busy schedules. ✍️ A Daily Communication Book Finally, our outing and communication notebook allows teachers to share small but important notes with parents each day — a kind word, an observation, or a little story from the classroom.This simple and direct link helps avoid misunderstandings and strengthens the bond of trust between school and family. 🌟 Because a school is more than just a place of learning. It’s also a living environment for both children and parents.All these little touches are part of our vision: supporting each family with care, peace of mind, and kindness.
Our Educational Choices at Alternative International School of Angers
Our school primarily follows the official academic standards set by the French Ministry of Education. The essential difference from a traditional school lies in the way knowledge is transmitted. We have chosen to build on advances in neuroscience regarding children’s cognitive development and to use recognized alternative teaching methods that have proven effective.This is not a disorganized mix: on the contrary, each educational tool has its place. Teachers, while creating links between approaches, use these different methods within a clear, structured framework based on a common foundation. This foundation is rooted in contributions from neuroscience. At AISA, one of our major references is the work of Stanislas Dehaene, neuroscientist and cognitive psychologist. Each learning process relies on the four pillars he identified: attention, active engagement, feedback on errors, and consolidation. We also ensure respect for the child’s natural rhythm, particularly sleep. For example, any child who needs a nap after lunch can rest in the dormitory space: there is no age limit for accessing this essential time for proper brain function. Several complementary teaching approaches coexist at AISA. Together, these choices aim to create an inclusive, caring, and cooperative environment where every child can thrive intellectually, emotionally, and socially: Bilingualism, at the heart of the school’s project: children learn in French and English through immersion, fostering cultural openness and curiosity about the world. Montessori pedagogy, which develops autonomy, concentration, and self-confidence through a prepared environment and specific materials. Freinet pedagogy, which values free expression, cooperation, and learning rooted in real-life situations. Contributions from “The Natural Laws of the Child” by Céline Alvarez, inspired by neuroscience, help support each student by respecting their pace and stimulating executive functions (attention, working memory, cognitive flexibility). Outdoor learning, offering children the opportunity to learn in nature, stimulating creativity, curiosity, and their connection to the environment. Juline Anquetin Rault’s autonomous pedagogy, which structures work time between lessons, free workshops, self-assessments, and immediate feedback, making each student an active participant in their learning. Our ambition is simple: to provide every child with an environment where learning is enjoyable, confidence grows, a love of work is cultivated, potential is fully developed, and personal fulfillment is achieved.Would you like to discover our full approach? We would be happy to send you our complete educational project upon request.
Inclusion
Learning to live in today’s and tomorrow’s world 🌍 Learning to live in today’s and tomorrow’s world means understanding the beauty of diverse intelligences and ways of functioning that may differ from our own. At AISA, living together takes on its full meaning through the inclusion of neurodiverse profiles, in an atmosphere of respect and kindness toward every child. Tailored support Our staff is trained to support children with special needs. Students are encouraged throughout the year to practice listening, empathy, and mutual support among peers, whatever their differences may be. Tools for better learning Specific tools are available to help children experience school life calmly (noise-canceling headphones, sensory seating, etc.).Highly stimulating times, such as lunchtime, are also carefully supervised so that every child can enjoy meals as peacefully as possible. A guiding thread in pedagogy Our focus on executive functions supports the development of each child, whatever their particularities, while strictly following the requirements of the French National Education curriculum. AISA, an inclusive school 🌱 AISA is a place where neurodiversity is fully embraced, and where every child can build confidence in their ability to act in the world—always with respect for each individual’s uniqueness.
Outdoor school
Growing up close to nature is one of the key pillars of our school’s pedagogy! Nothing is better for developing our students’ creativity, curiosity, and understanding of the environment around them, while also encouraging physical activity and peace of mind. Children have the incredible opportunity to enjoy several green spaces that are an integral part of the school’s educational approach. A Learning GardenFirst, a private vegetable garden plot, just a two-minute walk from the school, is visited weekly by the children. There, they learn and discover through the rhythm of the planting cycle. Our little gardeners actively sow, harvest, and experience the life of the garden throughout the seasons. The Parc Balzac, a Natural ClassroomIn addition, our school is located right next to the beautiful Parc Balzac, which offers joyful exploration hikes while also serving as a living classroom for school subjects such as mathematics, all in an enchanting setting. More Than a Schoolyard 🍃 At AISA, we offer much more than a schoolyard—we are a school open to nature, where children can thrive in a natural environment full of benefits.
