Strikes at crèches and school canteens: what the rules guarantee parents — and what they don't

What is happening

The CGT public-services federation has filed a national strike notice (préavis) for Thursday 8 October 2026, from midnight to midnight. It covers staff in municipal early-childhood services — crèches and other petite enfance facilities run under the fonction publique territoriale.

Town halls announce closures of after-school care and school canteens on strike days in separate notices with lists of schools — Le Havre city hall, for example. Its page about the 8 October strike now redirects to the notice about the next one, on 13 October.

Which crèches and schools are affected is decided locally. There is no national list: check your town hall's website and messages from your crèche and school.

What follows stays useful after this Thursday: strikes in French public services are a regular occurrence, and the procedure for parents is the same each time.

Why strikes are known in advance

In the public sector a strike cannot start without warning. The union must send written notice at least 5 clear days (5 jours francs) beforehand, stating the reasons, the geographic scope, the start time and the duration (service-public, F499). The CGT notice for 8 October is dated 21 September.

School: during lessons, children must be taken in

In state maternelle and élémentaire schools there is a right to childcare during strikes (droit d'accueil), introduced in 2008:

• if fewer than 25% of the school's teachers strike, the State (the rectorat) organises the childcare with non-striking teachers, in the school itself;
• if 25% or more strike, the commune organises it and chooses the place — it may not be your child's school;
• in private schools under contract (sous contrat) childcare is also guaranteed, but the school's managing body (organisme gestionnaire) organises it freely: the 25% threshold and the commune's duty do not apply to them (service-public, fiche F19364, checked on 26 March 2025).
• it is free;
• the head teacher must tell parents in advance about the expected consequences of the strike — by a notice outside the school, by email or by text message.

One important detail: the service-public page describes this childcare only for lesson time (pendant le temps de la classe). It does not cover collèges or lycées.

Canteens, before/after-school care and crèches work differently

Canteens, morning and evening care and municipal crèches are staffed by the commune. For these, the law provides a different mechanism: the local authority and the unions may sign a local agreement to keep the service running. The law names crèches, accueil périscolaire and restauration collective et scolaire among such services (alongside waste collection, public transport and help for elderly and disabled people).

Where an agreement is in place — and if none is reached within 12 months of the start of negotiations, the services and staff numbers needed are set by a council decision (délibération) — the following applies:

• staff must declare their intention to strike at least 48 hours in advance, including at least one working day;
• these declarations may only be used to organise the service during the strike;
• the agreement sets which functions, and how many staff, are needed to keep the service running.

The practical consequence: the town hall often learns about closures a day or two ahead and then publishes lists, as Le Havre did. But the rules do not guarantee that the canteen, after-school care or crèche will operate on a strike day. The school can be open while the canteen is closed.

What is practical to do

• Find out how you will be told. Ask the head teacher and the town hall where strike notices appear: website, app, email, a sign on the door.
• Check the evening before. Lists of schools and crèches can change up to the last day, as staff declarations arrive 48 hours ahead.
• Confirm the address. If 25% or more of teachers strike, the commune may host children in a gym, leisure centre or other building.
• Sort out lunch. If the canteen is closed but the school is open, ask the school whether a packed lunch is allowed or whether children must be collected at lunchtime.
• Have a back-up plan for the crèche. The school childcare right described above does not apply to crèches.

Sources

• Service-public.gouv.fr — Droit de grève dans la fonction publique (F499), checked 3 March 2026
• Service-public.gouv.fr — Accueil de l'enfant à l'école en cas de grève du professeur (F19364), checked 26 March 2025
• Le Havre city hall — Mouvement de grève le 13 octobre dans les accueils périscolaires et cantines, 9 October 2026 (the earlier address of the 8 October notice redirects here)
• CGT des services publics — early-childhood strike notice for 8 October 2026

This article is general information, not legal advice.