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MAKING THE MOVE TO ITALY
Destination content © John Moretti, used from Living Abroad in Italy, 1st Edition.
Maps © Avalon Publishing Group, Inc.
Overview
"Public schools are often at their best at the first two levels: the scuola materna, for three to five-year-olds, and elementary school, which in Italy runs from first to fifth grade. Elementary school students commonly study Greek and Latin, while recent reforms have made English and computer classes compulsory."
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Schools • Domestic Help

The thought of moving to another country with children can be daunting, but thousands of foreign couples raise their families in Italy and usually have positive things to say about the experience. Public education is very good, recreational opportunities abound, and most of all, family—and children in particular—is the number-one priority for Italians. Kids will never want for attention.

Schools
Public schools are often at their best at the first two levels: the scuola materna, for three to five-year-olds, and elementary school, which in Italy runs from first to fifth grade. Elementary school students commonly study Greek and Latin, while recent reforms have made English and computer classes compulsory. In general, parents feel that students start to receive less attention as they progress into scuola media (middle school), liceo (high school), and beyond, culminating in a university system where professors are rarely found in class, much less available for counseling.
  Private schools are not necessarily the best place to send a gifted student. Run for the most part by religious orders, they tend to cater to those with short attention spans or disciplinary problems. That said, there are a number of private schools with highly regarded curricula, where a top-flight education costs top dollar.
  The third possibility is a private English-language school, which is a very popular option among expatriates and Italian families alike. There are British, American, and international schools in the major cities, some with better reputations than others. (A comprehensive listing of those schools is available in the English yellow pages at www.intoitaly.it.) One occasional lament from parents, however, is that there are so many Italian students in these academies that classes can sometimes move slowly to accommodate non-native speakers.
  The most trying period for parents in Italy will usually coincide with their children’s toddler years. There are almost always waiting lists to enroll your child into a public nursery school, and so candidates are assigned priority by a points system. It takes into consideration your financial status, your occupation, and whether there is a grandmother at home to watch over the kids, among other things.
  For this reason, private nursery schools are also in high demand, and many middle-class or upper-middle-class families will find that a private nursery school tuition will cost the same as public one; count on about €400 ($520) per month. Naturally, the price increases the longer your child stays though the afternoon, though some mothers and fathers find that the money spent for the post-nap activities is a preferable alternative to babysitters.

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Domestic Help
Many working couples and single parents rely on foreign au pairs, as a lot of them are native English-speakers themselves. Luckily for those young women, there are international standards for how much they are paid and what they are expected to do at the home. Those that live with the families can expect a monthly stipend of about €450 ($585), their working hours are limited to a half day, and they should not be asked to do any cleaning unless there is a specific agreement about such chores.
  A housekeeper, on the other hand, will often charge somewhere around €750 ($975) per month. Because most of the housekeepers are also foreign women, often from the Philippines or Eastern Europe, the authorities keep a close eye on the sector for illegal immigration. Those found hiring illegal help can now face fines of up to €5,000 ($6,500). There are an estimated 100,000 immigrant women working as housekeepers in Italy, and polls show that about three percent of Italian children are raised by an immigrant nanny.

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