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Family

Description

There are is certain number of public services in France designed to support families.

 

There are various child-care solutions available to you if your child is below school age. The use of these services requires the payment of fees, and the cost for the family is calculated on the basis of your income.

 

Different types of child care also exist for children of school age (after-school activity centres and during the holidays).

 

For children under 3 years old there are different forms of childcare that are eligible for assistance from the CAF.

 

Group child care: 
  • “Crèches” are collective care organizations that often have long opening hours (from 8:00 to 19:00) but have limited places (waiting lists, social criteria). Whether public, private or associative you must prepare in advance in order to obtain a place in a “crèche”.
  • Daycare centres sometimes accept (for a few hours on certain days of the week) children under the age of six months in order for the parents to pursue personal or social activities. 
Individual child care:
  • The other alternative, the most common, is to use a childminder certified by the young children’s service (Departmental Council) and he or she must have undergone training in child care and must meet certain conditions, particularly in relation to child care. They look after 1 to 4 children, under the age of 3 years, in their home. Some group together in “mini-crèches” in order to share facilities and welcome more children. Prices vary but cannot exceed the fixed rate of € 50,15 gross per day.
  • It is also possible to hire childminders in your own home at much higher rates.

In addition, the Relais d’assistant(e)s maternel(le)s is a place where you can get information, meet others and talk to staff who serve nannies, parents and childcare specialists.