Improving quality in childcare facilities, the "Accompagne-moi…!" approach: a qualitative study

Provided they are accessible and of high quality, childcare centres may help in addressing social inequalities in health. The "Accompagne-moi…!" (AM) approach was developed to improve the quality of these centres in France. It aimed at improving professional practices to help children develop their social and emotional skills, and was evaluated in a pilot study which analysed its viability conditions in France.

A qualitative study was conducted in 14 childcare centres of four deprived areas in France over the 2019-2022 period. Eight interviews were conducted with stakeholders who initiated the approach, followed by 33 semi-structured interviews with childcare professionals.

The childcare centres interviewed were characterised by involved professionals working in challenging conditions, which were exacerbated during the health crisis. AM had the potential to meet certain needs (e.g. professional training) and to produce positive effects (e.g. a less stressful environment). However, the challenges of deploying such an intervention in highly stressed environments resulted in some professionals reporting a negative experience, such as a feeling of failure or loneliness. The viability conditions of AM were therefore highlighted, such as the need for sufficient human resources, integration of the approach into childcare centre projects, collective ownership of the approach, and supportive management and organisation.

While it is essential to consider the emotions of the children in childcare centres, the results emphasise how the well-being of children must be considered alongside to the well-being of professionals. Although it needs to be adapted before being scaled up, the AM approach has the potential to contribute to high-quality early childhood education. Some structural determinants are essential to implement interventions such as AM without creating difficulties for professionals.