Children attend primary school from the year in which they reach the age of 6 years old. It is possible to enrol a younger child if the school considers the child is ready to benefit from the experience, and a place is available.
The school week is 24 hours, attended over 4 or 4.5 days a week, as determined by the school. Most schools have opted for 4 days, leaving Wednesday free. Since 2008, attendance at school on a Saturday morning, which used to be so much of a feature of schooling in France, has been abolished.