School founded in 2016

Opened in 2016 in the Saint-Jean neighborhood in Ajaccio, the Scola Aiaccina hosts about twenty students in a private, non-contracted preschool and primary school. The school includes nine chickens, a vegetable garden, and a sensory garden created this summer.

Founder’s background

Emmanuelle Idir, the founder, wanted to realize her project in 2016 after fifteen years of teaching in primary school, including as a contractual teacher in Ajaccio's public schools. For the 2026 school year, the school has about twenty students supervised by three teachers.

Small class sizes

According to Patricia Adiman, a primary school teacher for more than thirty years and a teacher at this school for two years, the small class sizes allow more time to be devoted to each student. She explains that small class sizes are a luxury, allowing teachers to be very close to the children, help them if they have needs, and work closely with parents.

Learning environment

The rental of this house, transformed into a learning place, allows her to develop a nature-oriented environment. The program remains traditional, with French, mathematics, dictations, and mental arithmetic. English and Corsican are part of the curriculum, with an introduction to Latin added this year.

Daily rhythm

The environment also plays a role in the rhythm of the day, as the children bring their meals and eat outside when the weather allows. Jean-Philippe Paradis has enrolled his son at the Scola Aiaccina for more than five years. At the time, the child was very reserved.

Parental experience

After a failed experience in a daycare, his parents hesitated to enroll him in a larger school, particularly in Mezzana, near their home. Emmanuelle Idir explains that the school is not a Montessori school, as that requires specific training which they do not have.

Financial model

The tuition is 490 euros per month and per child. The institution not being subsidized, its operation relies on the monthly contributions of the parents. Some complementary activities also require financial participation.

Future plans

For its tenth anniversary, the institution also plans to launch new workshops around theater, chess, sciences, English, and handicrafts. These activities, still in the planning stage, could complement the teachings already offered to the students.

Student experience

His son is now in CM2, as is Amalia, nine years old, who joined the school this year after living in New Caledonia. For this CM2 student, who is discovering the private sector, the small class size also translates into relationships between classmates.

Personal growth

Since he has been here, he has opened up. Here, he is no longer at all shy. What he likes about this school is that they have a uniform, no cell phones, and they have fun.