School insurance: obligation, procedure and cost

Is school insurance compulsory at school?

Insurance not mandatory for all school activities

Civil liability insurance is not compulsory for all school activities, since children are placed under the responsibility of the National Education system.

For example, for a trip to the swimming pool or the gym, the child is covered.

Mandatory insurance for optional activities organized by the establishment

School insurance is, however, compulsory for all optional activities organised by the establishment:

• Discovery classes (green classes, snow classes, etc.).
• Language stay.
• School trips, walks.
• Visits to a museum, a city, etc.

Recommended insurance for children’s extracurricular activities

Although school insurance is not compulsory, it is strongly recommended so that the child can participate in extracurricular activities and provides cover if he or she is the victim of a serious bodily accident.

Parents must also take out school insurance if their child:

• eats in the canteen;
• participates in activities organized by the municipality after school hours (supervised study, cultural or sporting activities).

What insurance is mandatory at school?

At school, only liability insurance is mandatory for bodily injury caused to others.

School insurance: up to what age is it recommended?

There is no fixed age limit for school insurance, as it remains useful as long as the child is in school, from nursery school to high school.

However, insurance is often required until the age of 16. Beyond that, it remains recommended if the student continues to participate in school or extracurricular activities.

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What does school insurance cover?

School insurance includes various guarantees which vary depending on the insurer.

Damage caused or suffered at school, college or high school

Generally, this insurance is of the “multi-risk” type: it covers damage caused or suffered at school, college or high school.

Some contracts exclude civil liability for those who already have it in their home insurance contract.

Civil liability of the child

School insurance covers accidents involving third parties, whether they are other students, teachers or, more generally, outside of school, any other person.

Bodily injury suffered by the child

In the event of an accident occurring alone or caused by a third party, within the framework of individual accident insurance, school insurance covers the costs of care, hospitalization of the child and cases of disability.

Repatriation assistance guarantee

School insurance covers the costs of searching for and rescuing the child, as well as repatriation if necessary.

Damage guarantee

Very often optional, school insurance can cover certain personal items of the child listed in the contract mainly (glasses, bicycle, musical instrument, dental appliance) against accidental breakage and theft.

Optional guarantees

The school insurance contract may offer additional guarantees, such as for racketeering or an assistance service allowing the child to follow his or her schooling at home.

Which school insurance should I choose?

Identify your needs to find the best insurance

Choosing the best insurance depends on the guarantees you want for your children and those they can already benefit from elsewhere.

You are free to choose your insurer and you are under no obligation to take out the contract offered within the educational establishment.

Choosing the right formula

It is advisable to choose school insurance that covers your children all year round and for all of their activities (school time, travel between home and school + extracurricular activities).

This formula has the advantage of covering your child at all times and in all places. Whether he is with you or entrusted to a holiday center, leisure center or a club for sports practice, but also when he is alone.

Request quotes from multiple insurers

Before you decide, it is wise to request quotes from several insurers to compare guarantees and prices under equal conditions.

Check warranty exclusions

Ask your insurer if the sports your children play are covered (including competitive sports if the child takes part in them).

If your child uses their bike to get to school, the contract covers them in the event of an accident for which they are responsible.

On the other hand, family civil liability does not cover motor vehicles (mopeds, scooters, etc.) which are subject to compulsory insurance for motorized two-wheelers.

Does liability work for school insurance?

Comprehensive home insurance

Civil liability is generally included in your home’s multi-risk insurance. There is therefore no need to take out another one through the contract offered by the school.

This would only increase the contribution without providing you with a better guarantee.

School certificate

In this case, ask your insurer to provide you with a certificate justifying your cover, which your child will give to the school.

Can personal accident insurance be used as school insurance?

A useful guarantee in the event of a personal injury

Individual accident insurance is recommended so that children are well covered in the event of a bodily accident:

• School accident.
• Sports accident.
• Transport accident.
• Any other accident of private life.

An option associated with other insurances

It is sometimes offered as an option in multi-risk home insurance.

You can also benefit from it as part of a life accident guarantee contract (GAV), including certain family plans covering the subscriber and all members of their family (spouse and children).

How to take out school insurance?

Choosing the right contract

It is possible to compare insurers’ offers online to find school insurance at the best price.

For greater convenience, the contract can be taken out with the family’s usual insurer.

Parents can also join a collective contract offered by a parents’ association or by a private establishment.

Take out the insurance contract

Once you have made your choice, you can take out school insurance directly with the insurer. This process can be done online, by telephone or in an agency.

You will be asked to provide information about your child (name, first name, age, etc.) as well as the activities he or she does.

Receive the school insurance certificate

After subscribing, you will receive a school insurance certificate, which is often required by establishments for extracurricular activities.

This certificate must be kept carefully and presented to the school if necessary.

Check the renewal and termination terms

Most school insurance contracts are automatically renewed each year.

However, it is important to check the terms of termination and renewal to avoid any unwanted tacit renewal.

What documents do I need to provide to take out school insurance?

To take out school insurance, insurers generally ask for a few basic documents:

• Identity document of parents or guardians.
• Recent proof of address.
• A RIB.
• The list of the child’s school and extracurricular activities (sports practiced, regular outings, etc.).

Finally, if you change insurers, it may be useful to have information relating to the old contract to compare the guarantees and facilitate the transfer.

What is extracurricular insurance?

Extracurricular insurance is an extension of school insurance that covers children not only during school-related activities, but also during their activities outside of school.

This insurance is designed to offer complete protection throughout the year, in all circumstances, whether the child is at school, traveling, or enjoying leisure activities.

How much does school insurance cost?

Its cost varies depending on the insurers and the formulas and the number of children covered by the contract. The price most often varies between 10 and 40 euros.