Actress highlights cold conditions at kindergarten

Actress Lola Zidi shared a video on Instagram and TikTok showing the cold conditions at the Louise-Michel kindergarten in Montreuil, Seine-Saint-Denis, where her 3-year-old son is cared for during school holidays. She described the building as extremely cold, with children and staff forced to endure the cold without heating.

Staff and children struggle with cold

Zidi noted that the lack of heating is a recurring issue, with staff members wearing parkas and using blankets to cope. Some employees mentioned that the dormitory on the upper floor was especially cold, and some children reportedly got their clothes wet during naps due to the cold. She also stated that several employees were suffering from colds and criticized the working conditions.

Zidi seeks answers from city hall

Zidi visited the Montreuil city hall to seek an explanation for the lack of heating. Initially, no elected officials were available to meet with her, but she eventually met three representatives, including the general director of technical services. The director explained that the heating was scheduled to be turned on after the All Saints' holiday break and admitted to miscalculating the drop in temperatures.

Zidi questions city hall’s response

Zidi contested the explanation, suggesting that temporary solutions such as auxiliary heaters could have been considered. Her interlocutor reportedly stated that such devices were not allowed due to inspection regulations. Zidi emphasized that heating should depend on actual temperatures and the conditions of care for children rather than a fixed date. She also expressed disappointment that the city hall representatives did not immediately visit the site to assess the situation.

Zidi calls for broader discussion

Zidi highlighted that school holidays are not holidays for the rights of children and noted that she received comments from people working in schools, nurseries, or leisure centers describing similar difficulties elsewhere. However, she emphasized that the issue is not unique to Montreuil and called for broader discussion on resources allocated to early childhood and the working conditions of childcare professionals.

Zidi hopes for concrete action

Zidi stressed that young children are particularly vulnerable as they may not be able to express their discomfort. She hopes her statement will lead to a concrete reaction and prevent such situations from recurring during future school holidays. The Montreuil city hall has not responded to requests for further details.