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Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language
Stages Early Years, Primary School
Introduction
ICS Côte d'Azur is a co-educational day school on a modern campus in Sophia Antipolis, Valbonne, near Nice. It serves children from age 2 to 11 with bilingual instruction in English and French. The school delivers the IB Primary Years Programme in both languages for Early Years and Primary, while the Primary Years curriculum also integrates the national curricula of France and England. The Hub, a dedicated STEAM facility, supports hands‑on learning with robotics, 3D printing and design projects, and is central to problem solving and creativity. Facilities include an Early Years Centre with a 2‑Year‑Old Kindergarten, a Primary Years building with a library, art space, music room and canteen, plus two outdoor playgrounds and an indoor gym. Riviera Kids provides after‑school care and activities. The school is part of Globeducate and emphasizes intercultural events, languages, and a culture of care across an inclusive environment from early years through primary.
ICS Côte d'Azur has 400 pupils, typical class sizes of 12, instruction in French, English.
Location
245 Route des Lucioles, 06560 Valbonne, France. Valbonne is a town on the Côte d'Azur.
Stages
Early Years and Primary School. Early Years follows the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) in French and English for children aged 3 to 5; Primary School integrates the national curricula for France and England in grades 1–6.
Type
Co-educational day school.
Pupil Nationality Mix
35+ nationalities.
Additional learning support
FLE (Français langue étrangère) and EAL (English as An Additional Language) for students from PY3 to PY6.
Country affiliation
France and England (integration of the French and English national curricula).
Fees
Annual tuition at ICS Côte d'Azur ranges from EUR 12,480 to EUR 16,692 for 2026/27.
Application, Registration and One‑off Fees - Application fee: EUR 690 for the first child; EUR 540 for each subsequent child. - Registration fee (charged once at acceptance): EUR 1,650 for the first child; EUR 1,000 for the second child; EUR 500 for the third child; EUR 0 for the fourth child. KG1 students are exempt from the registration fee. - Excellence Fund (one‑off at enrolment): EUR 800 per child. - Application, registration and Excellence Fund payments are non‑refundable.
Annual Tuition Fees by Year Group (full‑time attendance) - KG1 (Petite Section, age 3–4): EUR 12,480 per year. Per semester (two semesters per academic year): EUR 6,240. - KG2 (Moyenne Section, age 4–5): EUR 12,480 per year. Per semester: EUR 6,240. - PY1 (Grande Section, age 5–6): EUR 14,004 per year. Per semester: EUR 7,002. - PY2 (CP, age 6–7): EUR 16,692 per year. Per semester: EUR 8,346. - PY3 (CE1, age 7–8): EUR 16,692 per year. Per semester: EUR 8,346. - PY4 (CE2, age 8–9): EUR 16,692 per year. Per semester: EUR 8,346. - PY5 (CM1, age 9–10): EUR 16,692 per year. Per semester: EUR 8,346. - PY6 (CM2, age 10–11): EUR 16,692 per year. Per semester: EUR 8,346. - Tuition fee amounts are for full‑time enrolment; part‑time places are not offered. Semester dates run September 1 – January 31 (first semester) and February 1 – June 28 (second semester).
Billing Schedule and Payment Terms - Families may choose to pay tuition in one, two, three, six or nine instalments. Exact instalment dates and the payment schedule are provided at the time of enrolment. Example for two instalments (2025/2026): invoice on receipt and a second instalment due 15 December 2025. - Invoices are payable in euros. For bank transfers from foreign banks, transfer charges are payable by the payer. - Payment methods accepted: bank transfer (preferred), SEPA direct debit from a French bank account, and cheques for specific items only (extracurricular activities, holiday courses, travel, registration fees). - Late payment consequences: late interest at the legal rate plus two percentage points, an automatic late‑payment penalty of 10% of the unpaid invoice, collection charges (example fees: third reminder €25, bailiff command €450), and potential exclusion of the pupil for sustained non‑payment. Fees for returned direct debit or cheque are charged (example: EUR 100). - Re‑enrolment: a re‑enrolment down payment is required to secure a place for the following year; failure to pay re‑enrolment charges by the deadline may result in loss of the place. Certain re‑enrolment deposits are non‑refundable after the stated deadline.
Boarding - Boarding is not applicable. ICS Côte d'Azur is a co‑educational day school for Early Years and Primary students.
Other Costs and Optional Charges - Canteen (mandatory through PY6): annual charge for the canteen (4 meals per week): EUR 1,269. Canteen charges are billed separately and are generally non‑refundable if the student is absent; the canteen is compulsory up to PY6. - Uniforms: uniform is mandatory from KG1 to PY6; uniforms are supplied via the school's parent portal / e‑shop and are billed separately. Uniform costs are not included in tuition. - Extracurricular activities, after‑school care, certain school supplies, some day and overnight trips (including “classes vertes”), class photos and certain books are charged separately and billed as extra items. Optional services are charged pro rata when applicable. - Language support and special programmes: EAL (English as an Additional Language) and FLE (Français Langue Étrangère) for PY3–PY6 and the STEP UP programme for students with an Individual Learning Plan are charged in addition to tuition. Typical rates are expressed as percentages of annual tuition: Level 1 support typically 15% of annual tuition; Level 2 typically 7.5% of annual tuition. Combined EAL and FLE support can be charged at higher percentage rates (examples: 20% / 10% depending on level). These charges are applied after assessment and are billed from the first payment.
Refunds, Cancellation and Mid‑Year Leaving - Application fees, registration fees and the Excellence Fund are not refundable. - A non‑refundable deposit (first term) is required to confirm enrolment; in limited circumstances a deposit may be refunded if cancellation is notified within specific short timeframes (for new admissions, refund may be possible if the school is informed by registered letter within 15 calendar days of the admission date). After those deadlines, amounts paid at enrolment are generally not refundable. - For students leaving during the school year, tuition is charged pro rata for entrants, but any term or quarter started is due for students leaving mid‑year (full months/quarters may be charged). Canteen fees are not refundable for absences while canteen is compulsory up to PY6.
Summary of Common Payment Options - Bank transfer in EUR (international transfers: payer pays bank charges). - SEPA direct debit (from French bank accounts). - Cheques only accepted for extracurricular activities, holiday courses, travel and registration fees.
Academics
ICS Côte d'Azur teaches IB (PYP), French Curriculum, British Curriculum for students aged 2 to 11.
Curriculum
ICS Côte d'Azur delivers the IB Primary Years Programme (IB PYP) in English and French for Early Years and Primary. Early Years (ages 3-5) follow the IB PYP in French and English. Primary School (grades 1-6) integrates the national curricula for France and England while following the bilingual IB PYP. STEAM and Innovation initiatives focus on problem solving, creativity and critical thinking. A culture of care provides a warm, welcoming environment for students from early years through primary. ICS Côte d'Azur is a member of the Globeducate network.
Student Teacher Ratio
12:1
Higher Education Progression
Post-primary education can be pursued in French schools offering the national curriculum, or in international schools in France and across the world with instruction in French, English, or both languages. Many ICS Côte d'Azur students join Globeducate sister schools on the French Riviera, notably Mougins British International School and The International School of Nice. The IB Continuum after the Primary Years Programme (PYP) includes the Middle Years Programme (MYP) for ages 11-16, the Diploma Programme (DP) for ages 16-19, and the Career-related Programme (CP) for ages 16-19.
Wellbeing
Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
The school uses a holistic wellbeing policy addressing emotional, social, physical, and mental development. Educational programmes foster empathy, cooperation, self-esteem, and emotional regulation; dedicated spaces for dialogue allow pupils to express themselves and receive support; the teaching team is trained in active listening and identifying distress to provide care; initiatives promote physical activity, life balance, and healthy habits; a positive school climate is cultivated in partnership with families to support wellbeing.
English as an Additional Language (EAL)
The school offers FLE (French as a Foreign Language) and EAL (English as an Additional Language) for students from PY3, designed for non-native speakers; these programmes provide tailored instruction in small groups, with Level 1 at 4–6 hours per 10-day cycle and Level 2 at 2–4 hours per 10-day cycle; the aim is to enable access to the curriculum and active participation in class.
Mental Wellbeing
Mental wellbeing is supported through a holistic wellbeing approach that covers emotional, social, physical, and mental development; programmes promote empathy, emotional regulation, and healthy habits; dedicated spaces for dialogue and a positive school climate are emphasized, with ongoing collaboration with families.
Safeguarding
The safeguarding and child protection policy focuses on early help, prevention, protection, and support; staff receive induction and annual training; a Designated Safeguarding Lead oversees safeguarding (Morgane Scherlen, Head of Early Years); online safety filters are in place; data-protection and photo/video consent policies govern school processes.
Admissions
Admissions
ICS Côte d'Azur has a rolling admissions policy: applications are welcome at any time of year and a new student can join mid-semester if a place is available. The school is currently accepting in-year applications for 2025-2026; contact to check which grades have availability. Admissions process: 1. Fill out the enquiry form to arrange a phone call or visit with the bilingual primary school. 2. A first visit to the school and a meeting are conducted with the Admissions Manager. 3. Submit the online application form with required documents and pay the application fees; the application is not processed until payment is completed on the last page of the form (you can save and return to it later). 4. After submission and payment, the child's file is reviewed by the Head of School; the child will be invited to spend a taster morning at ICS Côte d'Azur to assess French and English, or an online meeting if the taster day cannot be attended. 5. The school communicates its decision to accept or decline the applicant. 6. The family confirms enrolment, pays enrolment fees, signs the registration form and Financial Terms. 7. Onboarding with the family follows after joining. For required documents, see Requirements.
Scholarships
No scholarships or financial aid are offered.
FAQs
What curriculum does ICS Cote d'Azur follow?
ICS Cote d'Azur delivers the IB Primary Years Programme (IB PYP) in English and French for Early Years and Primary students aged 2 to 11.
How many students attend the school?
Approximately 400 students attend ICS Cote d'Azur from early years through primary education.
What age range does the school serve?
ICS Cote d'Azur serves children aged 2 to 11, covering Early Years and Primary levels with the IB PYP.
Where is the school located?
The school is located on the Cote d'Azur (French Riviera), providing IB PYP education in a Mediterranean setting.
