France readies for 2026 school year as parents get resources and teachers plan strike

The French school year begins on Tuesday, 1 September 2026. Parents are being offered a suite of free printable tools – timetables, holiday calendars for zones A, B and C, crafts, games, colouring sheets and reading lists – to help children transition back to class and organise daily routines.

The teachers' union SNES‑FSU has announced an action plan for the rentrée, calling for a national strike on 29 September and weekly mobilisations to highlight overcrowded classes, staff shortages and stagnant pay. Union leaders warn that inflation has eroded public‑sector wages by more than 20 % since 2010 and urge the government to allocate €4‑5 billion a year for a decade to renovate schools and improve conditions. The union will distribute leaflets, run surveys on vacant posts and hold a video conference for school section heads to coordinate further actions.