Overview
- Paris prosecutors say criminal investigations now cover 84 preschools, about 20 primary schools and roughly 10 daycare centres, bringing the total of sites under review to more than 100.
- A rare public trial opened on May 26 for a school aide accused of sexually assaulting preschoolers after parents agreed to waive anonymity to press charges in open court.
- Accusations range from physical violence, food denial and neglect to sexual assault and rape affecting children as young as three, and lawyers say some accused staff had earlier complaints before being reassigned.
- City officials report 78 suspensions since the start of 2026, including 31 linked to suspected sexual violence, and Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire has announced a €20 million emergency package and a citizens’ assembly to overhaul supervision practices.
- The crisis centres on non‑teaching ‘monitors’ hired by local authorities on short‑term contracts with limited vetting and training, and parents’ groups such as #MeTooEcoles are calling for national reforms, more prosecutions and better oversight that could change hiring, background checks and reporting across France.