The market for private nurseries in France

Day-care centers, officially known as "établissements d'accueil du jeune enfant" (EAJE), play an essential role in the care of young children, generally between the ages of 1 and 3. They offer parents a reliable alternative for childcare, helping them to reconcile their professional and personal lives.

In France, the EAJE landscape is particularly varied, based on a variety of management methods. These establishments can be run by associations, local authorities or even companies. There are two main types of crèches:

public crèches, often run by municipalities

private, for-profit crèches.

The latter, managed by private companies, are playing an increasingly important role in the childcare market .

Private ECECs fall into several categories, depending on their structure. These include

multi-accueil crèches, which can accommodate children under flexible formulas

company crèches, specially created for the employees of certain companies

municipal crèches, delegated to a private provider as part of a public service contract (DSP)

micro-crèches, which are smaller and cater for a limited number of children

Each type of facility meets specific needs and offers care arrangements tailored to the constraints of families.

Private crèches are financed by a variety of schemes, including

prestation de service unique (PSU)

prestation d'accueil du jeune enfant (PAJE), which enables families to benefit from subsidies to reduce the cost of childcare.

The ECEC market in France is marked by a structural imbalance between supply and demand. Although the number of available places has increased in recent years, demand still far outstrips supply.

This phenomenon is prompting many private players to enter this booming market.

French players are innovating by diversifying their offer. Day-care centers offering original educational projects, whether centered on ecology, music or foreign languages, are attracting more and more parents.

In September 2024, Victor Castanet, who revealed the Orpéa scandal in 2022, released Les Ogres.In this book, he recounts the major structural dysfunctions present in today's crèches, including a shortage of childcare professionals, scandals, a lack of food for the children... revealing the failings of the system.