Is Your Daycare Required to Stay Open During a Heatwave?

France has recently experienced an exceptionally intense heatwave that disrupts the daily lives of families... And it is likely not the last. To ensure the safety of young children, authorities have implemented specific measures governing daycare operations. Here’s what you need to know to anticipate future heatwaves with your child.

Daycare Adjusts Immediately to Red Weather Alerts

Since June 17, 2026, our country has been facing a heatwave that meteorologists describe as extensive, prolonged, and intense, reminiscent of the historic episode of August 2003. In response to this exceptional situation and the continuous rise in temperatures, the General Directorate of Social Cohesion published on June 22 a decision-making aid specifically designed for early childhood care facilities.

As soon as a department is placed under a red heatwave alert, local authorities must assess the appropriateness of adapting or temporarily suspending the care of your children. This assessment may lead to a closure, but also to a reduction in capacity or a decrease in operating hours. Specifically, if conditions are likely to compromise the health of young children, the manager will decide to interrupt the service. In urgent cases, the president of the departmental council or the prefect also has the power to order the immediate and temporary closure of the facility.

Material Conditions Dictate the Continuation of Operations

To determine whether you can drop off your child with peace of mind, daycare managers must rely on specific structural and situational assessment criteria. The absolute priority is given to the facility's ability to protect babies from the effects of intense heat. The team therefore evaluates the availability of cooled rooms or shaded areas within the structure. Thermal control measures in the premises and living areas are meticulously checked.

The windows of indoor spaces should ideally have openings that allow for good natural ventilation. The presence of functioning supplementary air conditioning systems or ventilation ensuring the renewal of nighttime air is also taken into account in the assessment. Of course, unrestricted access to drinking water or bottled water is a fundamental element for validating care.

Childcare Providers Follow Similar Guidelines

While the recent government communication explicitly targets collective establishments, parents employing a nanny or home caregiver are not overlooked. Health and safety recommendations also apply to these individual care modes. Professionals working in their homes or in Childcare Assistant Houses are encouraged to check the proper functioning of their cooling systems or shutters. They must have the necessary equipment to protect young children from heat, have thermometers in living areas, and closely monitor the menus and hydration of your children throughout the day.

Navigating an extreme heatwave requires genuine collective organization and a lot of adaptability. Don’t hesitate to communicate with the team caring for your child to know precisely what measures are in place and to anticipate any potential schedule adjustments. Dress your babies in loose, light clothing, provide a hat, and keep in mind that any potential restrictions on care decided by professionals have only one goal: to protect your children's health.