In France, an ecole maternelle, which serves primarily children aged three to five, is generally divided into three sections: Petite (3-4 years), Moyenne (4-5), and Grande (5-6). There are typically 24 to 30 children per class, each of which has one Maitresse (female teacher) or Maitre (male teacher) and generally an Aide Maternelle (aide). Although in France school is mandatory from age 6 through 16, nursery school is highly recommended as a strict correlation between nursery school attendance and the quality of future school achievements is assumed. One significant difference between French and American early programs is the French emphasis on art. In France children learn technique, try to copy French masterpieces, and generally produce much more complicated art projects than children in American programs, including large group murals. This article offers a brief description of the Ecole Maternelle (EM) du Port in Nice.