Just a moment of “goo goo ga ga” to return to childhood. Christian Estrosi, surrounded solely by women and children, gets immersed in the subject. The Mayor of Nice tries to anticipate the back-to-school period with Danielle Dessens, director of the CAF of Alpes-Maritimes. To do this, mothers in Nice, waiting for a place to have their children looked after, will now be able to receive a compensatory allowance of 200 euros. A welcome sum when it comes to choosing from among the 567 private approved childminders in the city. Christian Estrosi adopts a deferential tone towards women: “We cannot claim to support the role and work of women in society and not be able to have their children looked after.”
Expensive Places
In the playground, previously reserved for children, it’s time for an assessment. The city plans to release 2 million euros to fund this allowance. To address the problems of childcare, the Deputy Mayor announces, as an introductory measure, a hundred new places planned for 2009, at a cost of around 240,000 euros. The municipality will also oversee the opening of a deputy position dedicated solely to “Early Childhood” policy.
The project to upgrade nurseries also includes the creation of new facilities such as Lézardière, Madeleine, or Monastery. With around forty places per facility, nearly 130 additional spots are expected to open by the end of 2008. The president of the General Council is thinking big: “I want there to be no more refusals in Nice in two years.”
Nice More Attractive
In order to make the profession of a childminder more attractive, the city council will vote on October 10 on an improvement of their status and remuneration. An envelope of more than 300,000 euros is planned for this purpose in the 2009 budget. Childminder Support Centers will also be developed throughout the city to provide better local information.
Christian Estrosi finally wishes to lead the way and claims a system he believes to be promising. The city of Nice has already received over a hundred requests for the compensatory allowance for the 2008 school year. “No other city in France does it this way. My wish would be for all women who want to, like Angelina Jolie, to be able to give birth in Nice and raise their children here.”
