Monaco's Nursery Care Expansion: A Comprehensive Overview
Progress and developments in Monaco's municipal nursery services as the city-state approaches its 2025 milestone.
As of 2025, Monaco's nursery services will cater to 500 families, supported by a total of 400 nursery places distributed across multiple facilities within the principality.
Over the past decade, the municipal government has undertaken a substantial development initiative in childcare services, culminating in the creation of over 100 new places.
The latest renovation of the Monte-Carlo nursery was completed in January 2025, marking a significant addition to the city's infrastructure.
Recent expansions include the addition of 50 places at the Testimonio nursery in January 2023 and the opening of 30 new places at the Honoria nursery in September 2023. The municipality is focused on strategically locating new nurseries in response to increasing demand, with plans underway for another 30 places expected at the Ida nursery in the Condamine district by the end of 2026.
The upcoming Bel-Air nursery in the Jardin Exotique neighborhood is also on the horizon, which will accommodate around 50 additional children, featuring a centralized laundry facility.
Currently, existing nurseries generate approximately 240 kg of laundry daily, which underscores the operational demands of the program.
The municipal administration reports an efficient processing of requests, dispelling notions of an overcrowded system; there have been no waiting lists for the past three years.
Mayor Georges Marsan, who has been in office for 22 years, emphasized that the construction of nurseries is not solely driven by the lack of availability but rather by enhancing their geographical distribution to optimize accessibility for families.
Monaco maintains a high caregiver ratio with one professional for every five non-walking children and one for every eight walking children, aligning with standards recently instituted in France.
Currently, the staff managing the 400 nursery places includes 182 employees, incorporating educational staff, cooks, maintenance workers, and laundry personnel, with staffing levels expected to rise in accordance with new facility openings.
The projected annual budget for nursery operations is between 11 and 12 million euros, representing close to 9% of the municipality's overall budget, which is approximately 94 million euros for the 2025 fiscal year.
The cost to the municipality for each child's daily care averages around 145 euros.
In a bid to further promote early childhood engagement, Monaco is planning its first "Day of Early Childhood" on May 17, 2025, featuring activities for children aged 0 to 3, such as sensory and artistic workshops, along with physical and nutritional activities.
Older children will have opportunities to participate in a ping-pong tournament and treasure hunts, while parents can attend dedicated sessions and conferences, all hosted at the Princess Antoinette Park.
Over the past decade, the municipal government has undertaken a substantial development initiative in childcare services, culminating in the creation of over 100 new places.
The latest renovation of the Monte-Carlo nursery was completed in January 2025, marking a significant addition to the city's infrastructure.
Recent expansions include the addition of 50 places at the Testimonio nursery in January 2023 and the opening of 30 new places at the Honoria nursery in September 2023. The municipality is focused on strategically locating new nurseries in response to increasing demand, with plans underway for another 30 places expected at the Ida nursery in the Condamine district by the end of 2026.
The upcoming Bel-Air nursery in the Jardin Exotique neighborhood is also on the horizon, which will accommodate around 50 additional children, featuring a centralized laundry facility.
Currently, existing nurseries generate approximately 240 kg of laundry daily, which underscores the operational demands of the program.
The municipal administration reports an efficient processing of requests, dispelling notions of an overcrowded system; there have been no waiting lists for the past three years.
Mayor Georges Marsan, who has been in office for 22 years, emphasized that the construction of nurseries is not solely driven by the lack of availability but rather by enhancing their geographical distribution to optimize accessibility for families.
Monaco maintains a high caregiver ratio with one professional for every five non-walking children and one for every eight walking children, aligning with standards recently instituted in France.
Currently, the staff managing the 400 nursery places includes 182 employees, incorporating educational staff, cooks, maintenance workers, and laundry personnel, with staffing levels expected to rise in accordance with new facility openings.
The projected annual budget for nursery operations is between 11 and 12 million euros, representing close to 9% of the municipality's overall budget, which is approximately 94 million euros for the 2025 fiscal year.
The cost to the municipality for each child's daily care averages around 145 euros.
In a bid to further promote early childhood engagement, Monaco is planning its first "Day of Early Childhood" on May 17, 2025, featuring activities for children aged 0 to 3, such as sensory and artistic workshops, along with physical and nutritional activities.
Older children will have opportunities to participate in a ping-pong tournament and treasure hunts, while parents can attend dedicated sessions and conferences, all hosted at the Princess Antoinette Park.
