Homeschooling Lucca

For expat families

Moving to Lucca with kids: international school, English school or homeschooling?

Moving to Italy with children is exciting — and the first big question is almost always school. If you have been searching for an international school in Lucca, an English school or a British school near Lucca, this page lays out the main options side by side, from a family that has lived it.

Your three main options

1. Italian state school

Free, local and the fastest way for children to become fluent in Italian. The trade-off: lessons are entirely in Italian, which can be hard at first for older children arriving with no Italian.

2. International, British or English-language schools

There are private international and English-language schools in and around Lucca and in the wider Tuscany area. They offer teaching in English and familiar curricula, which makes the move easier for many families. The trade-offs are tuition fees, limited places and, sometimes, a long daily commute.

3. Homeschooling with a community

Homeschooling is legal in Italy (see the requirements here). It lets you keep your own curriculum and language, travel, and go at your child's pace. The hardest part is usually isolation — which is exactly why Homeschooling Lucca exists: a regular meeting point where children study together and make friends, and parents support each other.

Questions to ask before you choose

  • How long are you staying — one year, a few years, or for good?
  • How important is fluent Italian for your children?
  • Do you want to keep your home-country curriculum (US, UK, other)?
  • What fits your budget and your daily travel time?
  • What does each child need socially?

Many expat families also mix options over the years — for example homeschooling during the first year while learning Italian, then moving to a local school.

Practical first steps when moving to Lucca with children

  1. Get your codice fiscale (Italian tax code) — you will need it for almost everything.
  2. Register your residence (residenza) with the Comune.
  3. Register with the national health service and choose a family paediatrician (pediatra).
  4. Decide on schooling before the enrolment deadline (usually late January – mid-February for the following September).
  5. Connect with other families: the Lucca expat community is very active on Facebook, and our Homeschooling Lucca group is a good place to ask questions.

Join the Lucca homeschooling community

Whether you have already decided to homeschool or you are still comparing schools, you are welcome to get in touch. We are a growing community of local and international families across Lucca and Tuscany.

Join the waiting list   Meet Anna-Madeleine →

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