In the municipal newsletter currently being distributed in the royal city, the elected representatives of the opposition to the mayor of Senlis, Pascale Loiseleur, have chosen to devote their political platform to the management of the “Berceaux Brunehaut” crèche. .
Located within the Early Childhood Center, Place de la Gare, the “Berceaux Brunehaut” multi-reception center is managed by a private company, “Les petits Cheprons rouge (LPCR)”, via a public service delegation from the city hall. The establishment can accommodate around forty children, aged 10 weeks to 4 years, including ten babies (infants who are not yet walking), fifteen medium and fifteen large.
A real educational project
“The educational project is focused on the well-being of the child, free motor skills, and co-parenting (structure open to parents attending the establishment to organize formal or informal discussion times (thematic meeting, parents café), says the town hall. The multi-reception also includes a water play room and a sensory room for children.
During a meeting of the municipal council this fall, the majority voted for a change of provider: it will be Maison Bleue (LMB) which will manage this crèche, from 2025 to 2030. And this is what triggered the anger elected representatives of the opposition.
The book that reveals the scandals
“Victor Castanet, independent investigative journalist, published “Les Fossoyeurs” in 2022 to denounce mistreatment in establishments for the elderly and the financial (and political) abuses of the commercial sector, recall the signatories of their forum. After a report from the general inspection of social affairs (IGAS) in 2023 which recognized “the same issues and the same risks as in the elderly sector”, Castanet publishes “Les Ogres” in 2024 on the care of young people. childhood. From 2004, early childhood in France opened up to the private sector, which could then benefit from public subsidies: the family allowance fund (CAF) pays up to a third of operating costs. At the same time, companies are being pushed to offer cradles to their employees with tax exemption schemes. People&Baby, Les Petits Chaperons Rouges (LPCR), la Maison Bleue (LMB), Babilou, to name only the biggest, are launching into this sector. Tens of thousands of cradles are then created: initially company crèches then communities which entrust the management of their existing or planned crèche. Town halls thus make substantial savings compared to managed management (and free themselves from responsibilities). Private operators engage in fierce competition and slash prices…”
Market shares to conquer
All operators want to capture market share. “The price war leads to savings in personnel and a drop in the quality of services, estimate the elected representatives of the opposition. The managers’ strategy is to reduce staff numbers and organize over-occupancy of nurseries to optimize all costs: diapers, meals, etc. The director fills, maximizes the occupancy rate, reduces the payroll, replaces as little as possible. The CAF financing system with hourly pricing promotes this process and leads to very strong pressure: occupancy rate, occupancy rate, billing rate have become the key words. How can we be surprised by the staff turnover and recruitment difficulties?”
The IGAS continues to emphasize that “low levels of remuneration, the quality of life at work, the feeling of not being able to give the child the time they need do not make it possible to attract or retain staff “. It seems that staff are less qualified and less committed to a cycle of continuing training.
The same problems in Senlis
In Senlis, the “Berceaux Brunehaut” crèche constitutes a playground like any other for these large groups and we find the same problems there.
“The assistant in charge of the file is very satisfied with the services of LPCR,” notes the opposition. However, their 2023 results show a shortage of professionals and in particular a low rate of category 1 professionals working with children. In addition to the savings made on the payroll, there are expenses for layers that are much lower than forecast.”
Elected officials from the “Senlis c’est vous” group voted against the new market and asked the mayor “to prioritize, above any financial consideration, the quality of service to such a fragile and vulnerable public.” They proposed, without being heard, “a return to managed management with competent, stable and sufficient municipal staff.” They believe that with the new service provider, “we tick all the boxes denounced by investigative journalists and IGAS inspectors…”
