Last spots for the 2026/2027 school year
Please note, only a few places are left for next year. Join our bilingual, family-oriented school today.
A bilingual preschool and primary school in harmony with nature
Centre Actif Bilingue (CAB) is a private bilingual preschool and primary school founded in 1972 by a group of French and international parents from INSEAD, the world-renowned business school.
For over 50 years, our school has welcomed children aged 2.5 to 11 years in a nurturing, multicultural, and nature-centered environment.
Located in Fontainebleau, just steps from the famous forest and INSEAD, CAB offers instruction in French and English, and since 1983, also in German.
Inspired by the pedagogies of Montessori, Freinet, and Decroly, our educational approach emphasizes autonomy, curiosity, individual learning pace, and the joy of learning together.
Our small class sizes are led by a dedicated and passionate teaching team.
Preschool
A nurturing environment to grow, play, and thrive.
Each child learns at their own pace in a caring, bilingual setting.
Elementary School
An engaging setting to understand, cooperate, and blossom.
Learning is rooted in nature and made meaningful through hands-on projects.
CAB News & Updates
Discover CAB in Video
Dive into the world of the Centre Actif Bilingue, a bilingual preschool and primary school in Fontainebleau where children learn at their own pace, in a natural and nurturing environment.
Maria Montessori
Célestin Freinet
Ovide Decroly
Our approach is inspired by the Montessori, Freinet, and Decroly methods, which emphasize autonomy, curiosity, and respect for each child’s pace of learning. Our small class sizes foster personalized attention and deep, meaningful learning.
With families from over 20 nationalities, CAB is a truly human-scale international school. All our language teachers are native speakers, and we offer a structured FLS program (French as a Second Language) for non-French-speaking children.
A Human-Scale International School
CAB welcomes children from all over the world.
Our teaching approach adapts to all language backgrounds — even for children with no prior knowledge of French or English.
Language Learning That’s Structured and Caring
Our pedagogy adapts to all linguistic backgrounds — even for students with no prior knowledge of French or English.
CAB offers a warm, inclusive environment where children thrive and progress confidently.
Learning English from Preschool
Starting at age 3, children are introduced to English through play, songs, stories, art, and daily routines.
In elementary school, they follow a structured program based on Oxford University Press resources.
Learning French as a Second Language (FLS)
Each week, students benefit from over 5 hours of language instruction in small groups.
Our native-speaking teachers use fun, immersive methods (games, songs, reading, drama, etc.).
At the Centre Actif Bilingue, children thrive outdoors through motor activities, gardening, educational outings, and creative workshops. A natural environment that nurtures well-being, sensory development, and holistic growth.