Childcare in France: costs, options & how to apply

Types of childcare in France

Understanding your options is the first step. Here’s an overview of the childcare options available if you have children under three years of age:

• Municipal crèches (crèches Collectives)

These subsidised public nurseries are run by the local mairie (town hall). They offer structured, group care in French. They’re highly regulated, but places are limited and the waiting lists can be very long. If you want to use a municipal crèche France, be sure to apply well in advance of when you want your child to start attending. In France, it’s common to apply for public crèche places before your child is even born!

• Private Nurseries (crèches Privées)

These nurseries have a more flexible application process and (sometimes) shorter waiting lists. They’re usually more flexible than the public options. Sometimes, they offer bilingual staff or alternative educational approaches. 

• Assistantes Maternelles (Registered Childminders)

These licensed professionals care for children in their own homes. They care for a maximum of four children at a time, and offer a nurturing, home-from-home environment. Parents pay by the hour, plus food costs. This option provides more flexibility for working parents. 

• Micro-crèches & Halte-Garderies

Micro-crèches are smaller nurseries offering care for 10 to 12 children at a time. 

Halte-garderies offer part-time, drop-in, or emergency care. These options are good for flexible or occasional needs. 

In France, schooling is free and mandatory from the age of three, so you will only need to cover childcare fees for the first few years. 

How to apply & when to register

Planning ahead is really important when it comes to applying for childcare in France. 

Most families begin the application process 6-12 months in advance, especially when applying for public crèches. 

If you want to apply for municipal crèches, you’ll need to register at your local mairie (town hall), either online or in person. 

You’ll also need to submit a dossier (application file) that includes information on your income, proof of your address, and birth certificates. 

Your application will then be assessed. Priority goes to working parents, siblings already attending the same childcare setting, and special situations. 

For the autumn intake, you will usually receive your results in spring. 

If you want to apply for a private crèche, you will need to contact your preferred crèche directly. Each childcare setting will have its own application steps and deadlines. In some cases, you will be expected to pay a deposit to reserve a place. 

You can get listings for assistantes maternelles from your PMI (Production Maternelle et Infantile) centre or check the Mon Enfant directory.
 

Once you’ve drawn up a shortlist, you can contact and interview candidates. After you’ve found someone who will be a good fit for your family, you will need to sign a contract and register with Urssaf Pajemploi for legal employment and payroll. 

You can reach out directly to micro-crèches and halte-garderies to enquire about availability. There’s usually less formality, but you can still expect to fill in a few forms!

Typical French childcare costs

Understanding the likely French childcare costs upfront will help you to plan your budget. 

Municipal (Public) crèches have sliding scale fees that are based on your family’s income and how many children you have. These usually cost between €0.50 and €4 per hour. Lower-income families might pay as little as €50 per month for a full-time nursery place. Middle-income families (earning around €4,000 per month) might pay around €400 per month. And if you’re a high earner, you might pay up to €1,000 per month per child. 

Private Nurseries are more expensive. You can expect to pay between €600 and €1,200 per month. Often, you can’t access the same scale of state subsidies as public crèches. Direct payment for a private nursery (without public or employer co-financing) could cost between €1,750 and €2,200 per month for a full-time nursery place. 

Assistantes Maternelles. The minimum legal wage is around €3–€5 per hour, plus maintenance costs, meal costs and other expenses (like paid holiday). This option will probably cost about €800-900 per month for a 40-hour week. If you choose this option, you will need to employ your childminder directly and pay them via Pajemploi. Some childminders accept childcare vouchers from your employer (CESU). 

State subsidies 

French childcare is heavily subsidised, and most expat parents are eligible for some support from CAF, even if they are new to living in France. To access subsidised rates or CAF benefits, you will need to register with CAF and obtain a CAF number. 

Public crèches are largely funded by local authorities, so most families only pay 15-20% of the actual cost. For crèches, most parents are eligible to pay a means-tested price. To calculate this, you can use your quotient familial via CAF. 

If your child is under the age of 6, you may qualify for the CMG (Compément de Libre Choix du Mode de Garde) allowance if you opt to use a registered childminder or micro-crèche. This usually covers 50-85% of costs. 

Finally, if you choose to employ someone in the home to provide childcare, you can claim up to 50% of certain childcare-related expenses back as a tax credit.

How to find an assistante maternelle in France

Choosing a childminder is a big step. Here’s how to go about finding an assistante maternelle France with confidence:

• Search official lists at your local PMI or online at MonEnfant.
• Ask for recommendations from local parents or online groups (expat social media groups and school WhatsApp chats are a good place to start). 

During interviews, ask:

• How many children do you care for?
• What’s your approach to meals, naps, and play?
• Are you trained in first aid?
• Can you show me your accreditation and insurance?

Visit the premises to check that it’s clean, safe and welcoming. Check their contract terms carefully, including holiday and sick policies. Most importantly, always trust your intuition. 

Public vs private childcare: pros & cons

Public (Municipal) Childcare France

Pros:

• Affordable, highly subsidised
• Regular hours and quality standards
• Good for French language immersion

Cons:

• Limited spaces
• Waiting lists can be long
• Fixed schedules with less flexibility

Private Childcare France

Pros:

• Greater flexibility in terms of hours and holidays
• English-speaking staff are sometimes available
• Offer a choice of alternative or individual education approaches

Cons

• Significantly higher costs
• Variable quality - always check references and credentials

Working expat parents will need to consider their work location and language fluency. Some families choose to blend childcare solutions (e.g. part-time crèche alongside part-time childminder).

Navigating the childcare system as a non-French speaker

If you haven’t quite nailed the French language yet, don’t worry. Many other expat families have walked this path and made it work for them. Here’s how:

• Ask your mairie or crèche about interpretation services. 
• Use MonEnfant which offers listings and info in plain French and is Google Translate-friendly. 
• Join local parent groups or expat associations for tips and moral support
• Speak to a relocation consultant for help with the paperwork
• Visit the CAF website to use their easy calculators for CAF childcare subdidy. You can also try out their simulator tool.

Checklist for Non-French Speakers:

• Translate necessary documents (birth certificate, proof of address) with a certified translator. 
• Save sample phrases for interviews and applications.
• Bring a French-speaking friend or translator to meetings, visits, and interviews.

Summary

If you’re trying to find childcare in France, it’s a good idea to break the process down into more manageable steps. Here’s a quick recap of what you need to do:

• Research all of the childcare options available to you. These include public crèches, private nurseries, assistantes maternelles, micro-crèches, and halte-garderies.
• Apply early - ideally 6–12 months before childcare is required!
• Get your paperwork ready as soon as possible
• Check if you’re eligible for a CAF childcare subsidy.
• Compare public vs private childcare France options to work out what suits your family best. 
• Ask for help locally and tap into local parent networks

If you want to find childcare that suits your family, it’s never too early to start looking. Start your research as soon as possible to give yourself the best chance of securing the childcare spot you want.