Getting disadvantaged children ready for school in France

In France, one in five children lives in poverty. Deprivation is a cumulative process, so challenges like unequal opportunity tend to accumulate, particularly in large metropolitan and remote rural areas – the so-called “forgotten territories” of the Republic. To break the cycle, it's vital that children develop strong social and emotional learning skills in the early years.  

We help partners like EPEPE carry out research, run pilots and share their learnings to raise awareness of the importance of Early Childhood Development (ECD) policies and prioritising the poorest children. The field is still emerging, but the French Ministry of Health and Solidarity has shown great interest. We're capitalising on this momentum to encourage projects that help the most vulnerable children. 

We can disrupt the cycle of poverty by making sure children from all backgrounds are ready to learn when they start school. With higher academic achievement, lower school drop-out rates, they can develop the capabilities they need to live full and productive lives.