For nine out of ten children, the day ends not at home but in a classroom that extends beyond school hours. The rapid expansion of the after-school care offer has created a demand for care that has outpaced the development of safeguards. In Paris, the system that is meant to safeguard these youngsters is, according to a new Senate report, failing on multiple fronts. The report notes that 235 criminal investigations have been opened in the capital alone, a number that underscores a pattern of incidents that has gone unchecked.
On 2026-10-15 the French Senate adopted a report that was published the same day, and it did so unanimously. The document lays out a stark diagnosis of the after-school care sector, calling out a culture that is 'too reactive and not preventive.' It points to a lack of training, blurred lines of responsibility, and a failure to conduct judicial background checks on staff.
The report's statistics are hard to ignore: 90% of children attend some form of after-school care, yet the system's safety net appears fragile.
The report urges a comprehensive overhaul that addresses every layer of the care chain.
One of the report's core complaints is that caregivers often receive inadequate training. Coupled with the absence of mandatory judicial background checks, this creates an environment where aggression can go unreported and where children's well-being is left to chance.
The Senate's analysis frames the problem as a 360-degree failure: from the lack of oversight to the blurred responsibilities among agencies, the system is described as reactive rather than preventive. The report urges a comprehensive overhaul that addresses every layer of the care chain.
To move from diagnosis to remedy, the report recommends stricter training requirements, the implementation of thorough background checks, and penalties for any entity that fails to report incidents. These measures aim to shift the culture from one of reaction to one of prevention.
Agnès Evren, a prominent critic of the current system, summed up the sentiment: > 'La France ne protège pas assez ses enfants.' SOS Périscolaire echoed this critique while also expressing support for the proposed reforms. The government, too, joined the chorus of criticism, underscoring the urgency of the Senate's recommendations.
The Senate report marks the beginning of a national conversation about how to protect children after school. While the recommendations have been laid out, the real test will be in how quickly and effectively the government, civil society, and local authorities can translate them into concrete action.