Two Former Nursery Workers Sentenced for Child Abuse in Villeneuve-d’Ascq

The ex-director and a former nurse of a People & Baby nursery received suspended sentences for abusing children, sparking a broader debate on private childcare practices.

The Lille court sentenced the former director and nurse to ten months of suspended prison time for violence against minors at the People & Baby nursery.
The ex-director was banned from working with minors for three years, while the former nurse received a five-year ban.
The case involved allegations of physical and psychological abuse of nine children between 2019 and 2021.
The trial was held in private due to the involvement of minors, following intense media interest partly fueled by Victor Castanet's book on private nursery misconduct.
Families reported severe mistreatment, including isolation and deprivation of basic needs, leading to ongoing psychological impacts on the affected children.