Lille, a major city in northern France near the Belgian border, reflects France’s commitment to accessible and structured early childhood education. As with the rest of the country, preschool (“école maternelle”) attendance from the age of three is almost universal, following the national curriculum ([Reference 1]).
Lille places strong emphasis on early literacy and language development, responding to the linguistic diversity found in the region. Schools often integrate special language acquisition programs and early interventions supported by the “Programme de Réussite Éducative” (PRE) ([Reference 2]).
In addition, Lille actively promotes inclusive education, particularly through the “ULIS École” system ([Reference 3]), which supports children with special educational needs (SEN) to fully participate in regular classrooms with additional specialized help.
The city’s proximity to Belgium and its multicultural environment encourage early exposure to multiple languages, and there are growing initiatives around bilingual French-Dutch programs.
As a kindergarten director, I find Lille’s careful balance between academic excellence, linguistic richness, and inclusive practice to be a model for creating vibrant, equitable learning communities from the earliest years.

References:

• [1] French Ministry of Education: National Curriculum for École Maternelle

• [2] Programme de Réussite Éducative (PRE) Overview, Ministry of Education

• [3] French Ministry of Education: ULIS École (Special Needs Inclusion Program)