Our Method
We understand that babies and young children have an insatiable appetite to connect, learn, and communicate. They are uninhibited and do not mind which language they use, as long as the exchange is meaningful and fun!
We have designed a didactic and holistic programme that provides total immersion because we believe that this is the most successful way for children to acquire a foreign language. French is used consistently for instruction and communication in every class, without any translation.
To maximise language absorption and natural communication, each lesson is carefully crafted with clear linguistic objectives and techniques. This approach involves real and practical engagement with the language, allowing children to learn French in the same way they learnt their mother tongue.
Children make a direct connection between the language, their actions, and their environment, ensuring they will use it appropriately. Eventually, what they learn is truly ingrained, understood, and remembered, allowing them to speak French without realising they are learning another language.
All our teachers are native speakers, fun, caring and trained to deliver French lessons using the Club Petit Pierrot® methodology.
“Education is a natural process carried out by the child and is not acquired by listening to words but by experiences in the environment.” Dr Maria Montessori
Our Innovative Approach
We believe that learning is most effective when it is enjoyable. Our lessons are fun and conducted entirely in French, incorporating a diverse range of activities that allow children to naturally absorb vocabulary, grammatical structures, and syntax.
Communication flows seamlessly during cross-curricular activities, which are both entertaining and tailored to the cognitive and linguistic abilities of each age group.
We prioritise creating a nurturing environment where playful and structured learning coexist. This stimulating environment encourages children to experiment, explore, and engage with the language, mastering French without any undue pressure. They thrive as they are engaged in their learning by thinking, investigating, and creating.
Our educational and creative activities are designed to ignite curiosity and foster a love for learning. Children are motivated to speak and, eventually, to read and write in French, all while having fun.
For detailed information about what the children do in each class, organised by age and level of French, please click here.
“Scientists have recently determined that it takes approximately 400 repetitions to create a new synapse in the brain- unless it is done with play, in which case, it takes between 10-20 repetitions.” Dr. Karyn Purvis.
The Benefits of Learning French
with the Club Petit Pierrot® approach
- Cognitive Development: Learning a second language early boosts overall cognitive skills and improves brain development.
- Enhanced Thinking: Increases critical thinking, creativity, problem-solving, and mental flexibility in young children.
- Curriculum Alignment: We cover topics aligned with the UK’s Primary school curriculum for Key Stages 1 & 2, giving your child a wonderful head start.
- Confidence in Speaking: Builds confidence in speaking French, benefiting future language learning.
- Authentic Accent: Helps your child develop an authentic French accent.
- Cultural Enrichment: Offers insights into another culture, fostering open-mindedness and broadening horizons.
- Academic Performance: Students learning a foreign language often outscore peers in verbal and maths sections of standardised tests.
- Future Opportunities: Fluency in French can expand university and career options.
- Long-term fluency: Regular exposure leads to fluency over time.
“It’s almost as if the monolingual child’s brain is on a diet and the bilingual child’s brain stretches to the full extent and variability that Mother Nature gave it to use language and exploit human language” Dr Laura-Ann Petitto, world-renowned cognitive neuroscientist.
Where passion and experience come together!
We are a dedicated and compassionate team of fun qualified teachers and educators all sharing a real passion for teaching French to children.
Each member of our educational team is a native francophone fluent speaker and expertly trained to teach the Club Petit Pierrot® programme, ensuring a consistent and high-quality learning experience for all our students.
The team is led by an educational coordinator. Our teachers are qualified language teachers or educators for young children.
Our commitment to excellence extends beyond language instruction. Every team member undergoes thorough police checks and receives comprehensive training in safeguarding, First aid, in diversity/equality/inclusion and various professional development trainings. We take great pride in creating a safe, inclusive, and nurturing environment where every child can thrive and develop a love for the French language.
Stella
Founder/Director
Stella Bataille, the founder and director of Club Petit Pierrot, arrived in London in 1989 and began her journey at L’École des Petits. She undertook Montessori training, specialised in second language acquisition, and founded Club Petit Pierrot in 1993. More recently, she completed training in educational neuroscience.
With over 30 years of experience teaching children, Stella passionately believes in the immersion method. Her conviction led her to create the unique learning programme at Club Petit Pierrot.
Described as a pioneering language teacher, Stella has been on a mission from the start to engage children in fun and natural language learning from an early age. She firmly believes that children need a nurturing environment and an active learning approach to truly flourish and learn. Stella takes great pride in training her dedicated team of teachers, ensuring they share her passion and commitment.
Stella has also contributed as a consultant to educational content for Cartoon Network, coached nannies and teachers, created songs for learning French (available in our shop), and co-authored the book “Learning for Life.” She has been interviewed, and her classes have been recorded for BBC News, ITV News, Channel 5 News, The Huffington Post, BBC World Service, Daily Telegraph, and Le Figaro.
Over the years, Stella and her team have been privileged to work with thousands of families, including high profile families, celebrities and royalty. The innovative programmes at Club Petit Pierrot have been embraced by a wide audience, highlighting the effectiveness and appeal of Stella’s approach to early language education.
Our Pierrot is a fun, engaging character and we chose him because he not only represents French culture but he also encapsulates the playful and creative way we teach. Theatre has also had an influence on the creation of some of our activities and language techniques, and particularly mime and physical theatre, as they are very visual and energetic.
Pierrot, originally a character from Commedia dell’Arte, is a symbol of Pantomime in France. He appears in many French paintings, plays, songs and poems.
“Au clair de la lune, Mon ami Pierrot…”
