1. Case study

The mayor of a commune in the Oise region is planning to set up a crèche in the former presbytery, which the forthcoming absence of clergy will make available, subject to the green light from the religious authorities.

For at least the last ten years, children under the age of 8 have been looked after by childminders, in a very family-oriented and relatively uncontrolled way: childminders are often handed down from mother to daughter in the village, and networks have been created. Nevertheless, the population is growing, the birth rate is at its highest and the new inhabitants are no longer native rural dwellers: they're breaking away from the clannish vision...

In addition, other neighboring communes have similar problems and are interested in the project.

Faced with history's slowness to reach a decision, some...