"It's very beautiful and functional": the 1,300 students have already adopted the new Var nursing institute in Toulon

In total, 1,300 students from fields as diverse as occupational therapist, nursing assistant, ambulance driver, childcare assistant and nurse have taken over the walls of the new Var nursing institute.

In a gigantic building, the amphitheaters are aligned and, in addition to the classrooms, there are reading rooms, a documentation center and a cafeteria with free access to microwave ovens, stools and XXL tables.

This is where Lorie, Lætitia, and Inaïa, all three of whom have entered the psychomotor therapy program, work between classes. "We also say psychomot'," they say. "The premises are very functional and it's very beautiful. For me, coming from a working background, it's strange to join a class of younger students, but their welcome was great," adds Laurie, 42, from Hyères, who has been an art therapist and... a chef!

"I wanted to get back to the human element. To really take care of people. I spoke about it to Pôle Emploi (France Travail), who are supporting me in my approach, and here I am!" Alongside her, Lætitia, 19, and Inaïa made their wishes on Parcoursup and are among the 45 psychomotor therapy students in the class of 2025.

"Around a hundred teachers and support staff are mobilized for this necessarily special start to the school year," explains Christelle Llopis, a member of the management team. "All students are required to receive professional training to begin work immediately afterward. There's no time to waste."

The three psychomotor therapy students know that there is no shortage of needs: "Once they graduate, they can work in hospitals, rehabilitation institutes, nursing homes... The needs are numerous," adds Laurie.

Fresh from their first classes, a group stops to share their thoughts on the new premises. "It's a change from the old site in La Garde! Here, everything is more fluid and the comfort of studying is real. It's just a shame we don't have a proper restaurant for lunch on site. This forces us to go outside, but there aren't many shops in the neighborhood. So we heat up ready-made meals or bring sandwiches and take a break in the sun."

From Fréjus, Brignoles or Hyères

Training to become an ambulance driver, nursing assistant, nurse, childcare assistant or occupational therapist, Alexandra, Audrey, Océane, Mélody, Nina, Lilas-Lisa, Christophe, Gilles, Romain and Daniel are all pulling together: "We work together, we help each other."

Most live in Toulon, but some come from very far away: "I live in Fréjus and I take the train every morning," says Océane. Alexandra and Daniel live in Brignoles and have organized a carpool to share the travel costs. "The institute's branch in Draguignan doesn't offer training in our specialty, so choosing Toulon was the obvious choice."

Students aged 18 to 55!

On the staff side, everyone is also happy with the start of the new school year: "It's bright, it's pleasant, and the building allows us to save energy. Everything suits us!" say Clotilde Jacoméa and Magali Nicolau, heads of the childcare assistant program. "The students seem eager to take part; we're going to have a good year!"

A year that's off to a flying start for Carla Soria, barely 18, who comes every day from Hyères to complete her childcare training. "I take the regional train. I have no choice." "The oldest student was 55. The institute is very open. It welcomes both people looking to retrain and very young people who have applied through Parcoursup. It's a perfect mix and balance."