Henri-Salvador nursery closed: criticized by the town hall and the Maternal and Child Protection service

Between the department being placed on orange alert due to the heatwave on July 31 at noon, and the contact made the day before by a parent with the Maternal and Child Protection (PMI) department about the malfunctions in childcare, an unannounced inspection visit was carried out by the PMI and the town hall's Early Childhood Unit. The findings are overwhelming: overwhelmed staff, premises without air conditioning, high temperatures endangering the health and safety of children, deplorable hygiene.

Sanctions and injunctions

"The service provider has not even provided satisfactory alternative solutions even though they exist", almost chokes the director of the Early Childhood Unit of the town hall, Jean-François Rioufols. Before concluding: "With the safety of the children at risk, we had to take emergency measures." At 6 p.m., the axe fell: the temporary closure of the nursery was decreed until further notice, a "decision that is not so common", emphasizes Dr. Anne Alauzen, director of the PIM.

The Maison bleue was notified of a series of injunctions on the repair of the air conditioning, the reminder and respect of protocols, as well as good practices to follow with children. A new inspection will be carried out on August 8th, following which a decision will be made whether or not to allow the reopening. “Everything will be studied closely. At the slightest snag, the reopening will not be authorized”, warns Anne Alauzen.

What solutions for parents ?

In the meantime, so that parents do not find themselves stuck in the water with their children, the town hall is listing the places available in the two other childcare crèches for the summer that are Antigone and Liselotte. 30 to 35 would be available between these two crèches.

"We also mobilize the service provider to provide solutions", says Jean-François Rioufols. But the mini-crèche managed by the Maison bleue in Montpellier will close its doors next Monday. End of the story. If a quick solution can be found, this episode is only the tree hiding the forest, because the problems do not start from yesterday.

Staff in great distress

The premises are one thing, but “repairing” the human being is another matter. Whatever the position of the employees of this nursery, the suffering is the same for all: work overload, deplorable hygiene, interchangeability of roles due to lack of sufficient staff, absence of clear instructions, sick leave in cascade without replacement…

“Nothing was prepared for the start of the school year. It was complete nonsense,”, says one of them. “We can report everything, but they don't listen to us”, says another. “We're in trouble all the time”, notes another. They went on strike. Resignations are coming. However, they love their jobs and the children. They will return to work on Monday, hoping that their action and the temporary closure will not be another blow in the water.

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