Press room

Even though France is already above the average ompared to other OECD countries in terms of childcare coverage for children under 3 years (43% in France and 30% average for OECD countries), the government nevertheless launched an ambitious plan to increase the number of childcare providers in 2009.

In the midst of social financial pressure, how can the needs of parents and young children be met?

In response to this issue the CAS presents six proposals:

1. Cap the rates that parents are charged by small nurseries by using the provisions for services for young children (ELP) as the financing method.
2. Determine an optimal number of "nurse shifts" (RAM) for each nurse and prioritize resources in areas less well equipped.
3. Develop training for nurseries:
   - make the salary advances during training and education a public contractual responsibility 
   -change the way in which training is undertaken to make it more of a hospitality service
4. Make the departmental plans for the development of services for young children mandatory and public by identifying areas that should be prioritized according to criterias that will defined.
5. In order to facilitate the planning of providing more nurseries in regional areas, forecasts on education for 2-year olds from the Ministry of Education should be systematically transmitted to regional committees on young children services.
6. Give the High council of family affairs the responsibility to launch a report on the level of importance related to a greater integration between preschool before the age of three and schooling up to the age of six.

Press Contacts:

Jean-Michel Roullé, Head of Communications
Tél. 01 42 75 61 37 - jean-michel.roulle@strategie.gouv.fr

Jonathan Lorrillard, Communications Officer
Tél. 01 42 75 60 39 - jonathan.lorrillard@strategie.gouv.fr