Little Dragons
English Immersion Preschool in Paris Batignolles
For children from 2 – 6 years old
100% English Speaking
From the moment your child walks through the school’s front door, they will be exposed exclusively to English for the duration of their day. Our school welcomes children from all backgrounds, from expatriate families who speak little or no French, to francophone children here to discover the English language naturally from a young age as a second mother tongue. Parents can choose to communicate in either French or English with our entirely bilingual team of teaching staff.
A Safe Environment
Our mixed-age classroom is equipped with 7 loyal teachers who have been committed to the school’s pedagogical project for several years. As a result, your child will maintain a relationship with the same familiar and trusted teachers throughout their preschool years, developing a link that provides them with a sense of confidence and security during these vital developmental years. The goal at our school is to offer a smooth introduction to the school system.
À la Carte Welcome
The school is adapted to the needs of working parents, remaining open until 6 o’clock in the evening, as well as during the majority of school holidays (we close only during the December and August holidays). Families can arrange their vacations outside of the typical school holiday dates if they wish. And don’t worry if your little one isn’t potty-trained before the start of the school year – we are happy to welcome children still in diapers, unlike conventional preschools.
We also accept children from other schools whose families wish to benefit from an English immersion experience on Wednesdays and/or during the school holidays.
Our Goal: students who are happy to go to school !
The Little Dragons pedagogy, inspired by Scandinavian, Anglo-Saxon and Eastern European models, values play, autonomy and responsibility. Children are free to choose their own activities within a caring, structured framework. Building a community, with clear rules and involvement in daily tasks naturally fosters a sense of confidence and autonomy within each child as an individual and encourages them to take pleasure in learning.
Our Team
The members of our teaching team at Little Dragons are recruited for their personal qualities, teaching experience and English language skills. A total of 7 teachers from the USA, England, Poland and France are on hand to supervise the integrated class: Anna, Annick, Caroline, Catherine, Justyna, Karelle and Leslie.
Anna – Director
Trained in pedagogy at the University of Szczecin (Poland), then having acquired a diploma in Education Sciences at the Institut Catholique de Paris, I have had the opportunity to explore and compare different educational systems, which served to nurture an enriched and open vision of teaching. My experience, from au pair to director at Little Dragons, has enabled me to develop a pedagogy centred on the pleasure oflearning, autonomy and empowerment from an early age. I am convinced that an emotional attachment to school is the basis for a fulfilling academic career. At Little Dragons, we implement an innovative pedagogy based on a mixed-age class and mentoring between children, facilitating rich and caring interactions. This approach encourages confidence, a sense of belonging and learning by imitation, all the while immersing children in a natural, lively bilingual environment.
Karelle
Originally from the United States, I have been living in France for the past ten years. After teaching in public and private schools in Bordeaux, I joined the Little Dragons team in Paris four years ago, where I found an open, dynamic teaching method, deeply respectful of each child’s rhythm. Here, children choose their own activities, develop their autonomy and flourish in a mixed class where the older children guide the younger ones. This approach fosters creativity, responsibility and mutual support. To teach at Little Dragons is to take part in a unique educational experience, supported by an exceptional team and with a natural immersion in English, which gives children a solid foundation for the rest of their lives.
Caroline
I am British and have lived in Paris with my French husband for 15 years. We have a bilingual daughter, so I know first-hand how easy it is for children to learn a language when they are immersed in it – playing, eating, learning, exchanging and making friends. I am now in my 10th year at Little Dragons and have had the pleasure of seeing so many children pass through our school. Here, we have the privilege and time to really get to know each child and create a genuine bond with each one. We often welcome the younger siblings of former students, making Little Dragons a true family affair. I have a B.A / B.Sc in Arts and Social Sciences as well as experience in museums and conservation, with a lifelong passion for arts and crafts.
Leslie
Having come to Paris to become an early childhood educator, I discovered Little Dragons during my last internship… and happily stayed on, first as an assistant, then as a full time educator. It’s an extraordinary school, with a low student-teacher ratio, where each child is fully supported, never lost in the crowd. I love working with the visual arts here: textures, colors, original creations like figures constructed from fallen leaves… everything becomes a pretext for exploring, expressing oneself and enriching language. The mixed-level class is a real asset: the older children guide the younger ones with tenderness and pride. And of course, immersion in English from an early age is a precious opportunity that I warmly recommend to all parents!
Catherine
I completed my studies in England, obtaining a diploma in “Nursery Nursing” which I then had validated in France. For 13 years, I worked in an English-speaking nursery, and since 2007, at the Little Dragons, where I am now in my 18th year. I particularly like the “linguistic bath” aspect, which gives children the wonderful opportunity to learn the English language while playing. In this atmosphere, they learn very quickly without constraints.
What parents and children have to say
Testimonials from families who have attended Little Dragons
Virginie
Mother of 3 little dragons
For me, the strength of this school is first and foremost its cozy, nurturing environment — there are only 27 children maximum, which means an exceptionally high adult-to-child ratio.
Lise
Mother of a Little Dragon
I chose this school for the English and the flexibility it offers parents. Then I discovered all the benefits of the mixed-age classroom, where the older kids help the younger ones. Today, in middle school, my son has been praised by his teachers for his helpfulness and solidarity — which I believe comes from his years at Little Dragons.
Sébastien
Father of a boy who spent 4 Little Dragons
The early school years are so precious. When I picked up my son from Little Dragons, he didn’t want to leave — he wanted to keep doing activities! I warmly recommend this wonderful school to all parents.
Missia
10 years old, including 3 years at Little Dragons
When I walked into the school for the first time, it was different from what I’d imagined: suddenly, everyone welcomed me as if I’d been there forever. I made friends on the very first day. I felt almost like I was at home. I really loved that moment.
Fleur
9 years old
I really liked that we could go outside and weren’t limited to just a playground. We went outside every day. We also had the whole morning to play. And my favorite game was dressing up! I also liked playing with the play kitchen.
The older kids would work while the younger ones napped. For example, you’d get worksheets and had to write things in English. Now, I understand English easily.
Gustave
11 years old
I spent 4 years at Les Petits Dragons and I loved it! We did lots of different activities — going to the park, playing with trays filled with rice, building with tons of Duplo, dressing up…
We could arrive pretty much whenever we wanted in the morning and choose a first activity like painting, singing, or dancing. Then we had lunch. After that, we’d switch to another activity and then it was nap time.
The amazing friends I made at Little Dragons… I still have them today, five years later!
Delphine
Mother of a Little Dragon
My daughter attended Little Dragons from 2018 to 2020. I really wanted to offer her an alternative school. When I met Anna, I felt I could trust her. I could see that she genuinely loves children and that the team was passionate about giving to others.
What makes this school so special is this small, close-knit team and the deep sense of kindness you feel there. Everyone brings the richness of their story, their English-speaking background, their words, their culture.
The school’s approach focuses on the child’s well-being, autonomy, and the discovery of different forms of art — especially music, which plays a big role at Little Dragons.
For parents like me who have jobs that require some flexibility, Little Dragons is also a great fit. The schedule isn’t rigid. That really reduced my daily stress and helped me avoid passing it on to my daughter.
To future Little Dragons parents, I’d say this: if you want to see your child blossom, feel good in their sneakers, grow in autonomy and self-confidence — this is the ideal school!
Admissions
To keep our school to a small intimate group, we have limited the number of children to 27, who thrive in a single mixed-age classroom.
Unfortunately, we cannot accept all applications. We give priority to expatriate families settling in Paris (our school’s primary vocation) and to families who share our pedagogical project.
If you think our school is right for your child, please don’t hesitate to contact us at any time of the year: because we aim to welcome expatriate children, places become available throughout the school year. There are still a few places available for the 2025-2026 school year!
Contact Anna by e-mail : littledragons@free.fr
or come and meet us at Les Batignolles :
29 rue Truffaut in the 17th arrondissement of Paris.
Over 40 years in existence
100% in English
From 2 to 6 years old
1 supervisor for 5 childrens
Learning through play
Flexible schedules and vacations
