Child Care System and « assistante maternelle agréée » in France

Abstract

　This article explains the French childcare system, especially the mainstreaming of the childcare assistant (assistante maternelle agréée). This is the most accessible childcare service in France. In 1990, the French government implemented an economic support for the childcare assistant (aide à la famille pour l'emploi d'une assistante maternelle agréée) and then the number of childcare assistants has increased sharply. Since parents began to use the economic support, the childcare assistant became the most accessible childcare service. But its jobs involve a problem with the quality of childcare. The childcare assistant can be certified by 120 hours of training. This shortness of training will affect the quality of childcare. However, Parents choose the childcare assistant more than the nursery school. Accordingly, this article examines why they do so. From this perspective, we also explore implications for the Japanese childcare system.