Introduction

Along with the Nordic countries, France leads the European Union (EU) in public childcare provision and benefits aimed at reducing childcare costs for families. It has also widely been recognised that the French childcare system has many strengths (OECD, 2012). In recent years, however, in the context of economic uncertainties, policy makers have been confronted with new tensions and dilemmas. While over the last decade France has continued to progressively consolidate and enhance its promotion of policies to support the work–family life balance, the introduction of new laws in the domain of early childhood education and care (ECEC) has mirrored the growing hold of employment policies over childcare policies.

What has been at stake when it comes to accessible, affordable and good quality ECEC? To what extent is the system meeting the challenge of providing equal access for all children under six? What were the rationales underpinning changes and what were the key drivers of change? Against the background of budgetary constraints, what are currently the main priorities? What is the impact of the rising demand of formal childcare provisions on quality framework and tools? These are the questions addressed in this chapter.

The first part of this chapter is devoted to the ECEC system. In particular, I investigate whether socio-economically disadvantaged children are accessing high-quality ECEC to the same extent as their more advantaged peers. Funding and cost of care to families follows. Then I focus on the quality issue and the recent decisions made in this domain. To conclude, I highlight some of the challenges policy makers currently face and the tensions they have to deal with.

For the rest of the chapter I use the term ‘early childhood education and care’ (ECEC), as well as other terms such as crèches, childminders, écoles maternelles (nursery schools) and multi-accueil (multi-functional childcare centres), which more aptly describe the services available in France, as the chapter will make clear.

An extensive and segmented system of public provision: day-care and écoles maternelles

France has a well-established and longstanding early childhood system dating back to the end of the nineteenth century. The system has two tiers, falling under separate ministerial auspices: on the one hand, formal childcare provision (publicly subsidised centre-based as well as home-based arrangements); and on the other, écoles maternelles. This dual system is a legacy of the past.