Skip to content

Club Petit Pierrot® Pedagogy

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 on the button below.

“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:

“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.
Toddler brain scan gives language insight
The brain has a critical window for language development between the ages of two and four, brain scans suggest.
Why the baby brain can learn two languages at the same time
Research shows babies begin to learn language sounds before they’re even born. What about babies who hear two languages from birth? Can a baby brain specialize in two languages?
Foreign Language Learning in Babies and Toddlers Boosts Academic Results.
On all my travels I note that children globally can speak up to four languages as their norm. Why are the UK’s youth the worst at wanting to and being able to speak not only good English, but any other language?

Our Team

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
Our Pierrot
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

Parent Testimonials

Give your child the Gift of French

From sensory play for babies to reading and writing for older children, our award-winning programme makes learning French a joyful adventure. Discover how our native-speaking teachers bring the language to life through music, movement, and creativity.