At the Marie-Brun crèche, free educational exploration to improve the daily lives of little ones

Une transformation totale de l'espace est prévue. Midi Libre – Célian Guignard

Pendant trois ans, l'accueil collectif de Chanac sera l'établissement pilote de l'Institut petite enfance (IPE). Un projet d'envergure pour la structure et la commune.

Things are happening at the Marie-Brun crèche in Chanac. Ideas abound to improve the daily lives of little ones. "We have already reorganized the space and reception around the meal, reveals Marie Funten, the director. The time slot for eating has been extended, from 11 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Children come when they are hungry. There are four at most. They take their tray. They help themselves. If the place is taken, they wait."

The director and her colleagues will have three years to achieve "a total transformation of [their] space and [their] practices". Until 2027, The Marie-Brun crèche will in fact be the pilot establishment of the Early Childhood Institute (IPE) around free educational exploration, this movement of thought led by the French neuropsychiatrist Boris Cyrulnik. "We also wonder how to change the diaper, so that it is not assembly line work, but a special moment. Or how to reorganize time around sleep. We also want to rework the nursery-school bridge, continues Marie Funten.

The bed, the biggest piece

To achieve this, Marie Funten responded, in the summer of 2023, to the call for projects "Early childhood investment fund" . "We will have time to experiment and work all the times of everyday life",she rejoices. Some 78,500 € will be allocated to keep this initiative alive, 80% financed by the Lozère Common Social Security Fund (CCSS) and the State; the remaining 20%, by the commune of Chanac.

Of all the changes to be made, the team knows that sleeping will be the biggest piece. "Crèches have already tried free access to the sleeping space, continues the director. This raises the question of respect for others. Don't they risk waking up among themselves ? We will find the best possible organization."

Experience sharing

Children who will eat when they want, who will sleep when they feel the need… And the adults in all of this ? & quot;We become leading adults, replies Marie Funten. There is always an agent nearby. We observe everything that happens but only intervene when necessary. The more a child experiences free educational exploration, the less he needs help from adults. You have to trust them, not systematically overdo their work. We reassure parents. There will always be rules. The idea is to stick as closely as possible to the child's rhythm in a collective setting."

An adult is always nearby, ready to intervene. Midi Libre – Célian Guignard

During these three years, the Marie-Brun crèche will meet other structures to share its experience with them. "We will travel in training schools to exchange with CAP Early Childhood Educational Support students and students in Education and Training Sciences. With the Maternal and Child Protection (PMI), we will share with the other crèches. We want to make them want to evolve, knowing that each structure is different and progresses in its own way."

Collective enthusiasm

In Chanac, where the pedagogy of Hungarian pediatrician Emmi Pikler has long been studied and applied, a form of calm and serenity already reigns. "It's much more pleasant, estimates Anne-Maude, one of the supervisors. There are no longer all these tensions before and after the meal. By letting them do so, we are no longer constantly holding back moments of collective excitement."

A wave of enthusiasm also runs through the team of eight people for twenty children. "I sense emulation among adults, who also need to be trusted, welcomes the director . The transformation also takes place among the agents, who become researchers. They send me articles. They write me texts. They give me book reports. Everything is not always perfect. Sometimes it gets stuck, but we talk, we look for solutions."

"To change the world, we must start by changing ourselves, said Gandhi. The Marie-Brun crèche, by agreeing to evolve its working methods and taste free educational experimentation, is undeniably on this path, with the well-being of its protégés as its compass.

The Marie-Brun crèche can still accommodate a few children. Contact: 06 75 77 68 38.

The meetings of 2024

As part of the three-year project, during which the Marie-Brun crèche will be the pilot establishment of the Early Childhood Institute (IPE) around the free educational experimentation, a conference will be organized &agrav; the Chanac village hall, Thursday May 30, 2024, in the presence of Philippe Duval, the director of the IPE. Boris Cyrulnik, ;gé 86-year-old, will speak in videoconference. The theme normally chosen: "nursery of yesterday, nativity of ;#39;today, nursery of tomorrow, new knowledge, new practices." The event will be open to the public. all. 

Philippe Duval will also visit the cr à twice: from Tuesday 12 to Thursday 14 March and from Tuesday 28 to Thursday 30 May. In May, the IPE will also provide training on sleep. In December 2024, the results of the first year will be drawn up. 

So many events which will serve as an appetizer, before the Marie-Brun nursery celebrates its 25th birthday in 2025. 

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