Childcare Service Voucher service providers (CSA) – mini-crèches

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A mini-crèche (MC) wishing to join the childcare service voucher scheme (Chèque-Service Accueil - CSA) must file an application with the Education and Care Service at the Ministry of Education, Children and Youth in order to be recognised as a Chèque-Service Accueil service provider (CSA service provider).

The CSA service provider fulfils a public service mission with the objective to strengthen social cohesion by offering equal opportunities to all children.

Who is concerned

Any mini-crèche (MC) with ministerial accreditation can become a Chèque-Service Accueil service provider.

Prerequisites

Terms and conditions

In order to gain recognition as a Chèque-Service Accueil service provider, the mini-crèche must fulfil the following conditions:

  • be accredited as a mini-crèche;
  • establish an educational project that is compliant with the function of a public service which consists in:
    • strengthen social diversity and integration of children at the local community level and in Luxembourg society;
    • support children's schooling in the Luxembourg basic education system;
  • implement quality-achievement tools in line with the national framework of reference for "Non-formal education of children and young people", more particularly:
    • implement a general concept of action that is compliant with the national framework of reference;
    • keep a logbook that reflects the implementation of the mini-crèche's general concept of action through its educational practices;
    • establish a continuing vocational training plan for the staff while respecting the continuing vocational training requirements. The content of this training must be consistent with the national framework of reference and be validated by the competent commission;
    • accept the visit of a regional officer of the National Youth Service;
  • adhere to the system of recording the actual hours of attendance of the children taken in.

Additional conditions for MCs caring for children who are eligible for the multilingual education programme

Services that care for eligible children must also meet the requirements of the multilingual education programme, in particular:

  • incorporate all 3 fields of action of the multilingual education programme into the general concept of action and the logbook, i.e.:
    • develop children's language skills;
    • work in partnership with parents;
    • network and collaborate with the Luxembourg schooling, social and medical services;
  • respect the conditions of continuing vocational training for supervisory staff in the field of language development for young children;
  • from among the ranks of the qualified supervisory staff, appoint an educational supervisor for the multilingual education programme. The educational supervisor must have taken a specific training course;
  • employ supervisory staff with the required professional qualifications, at a level of at least 10 % above the minimum requirement;
  • ensure that at least:
    • one person within the MC has a level C1 command of Luxembourgish (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages - CEFR); and
    • one person within the MC has a level C1 command of French (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages - CEFR).
  • Each of these languages must be spoken for at least 40 hours a week.

Preliminary steps

Before they can be recognised as a Chèque-Service Accueil service provider, the manager of the MC must obtain ministerial accreditation. Accreditation must be applied for from the Education and Care Service of the Ministry of Education, Children and Youth.

The application can be made at the same time as the application for accreditation as a Chèque-Service Accueil service provider.

Deadlines

The validation procedure for the general concept of action can take up to 3 months.

It is therefore preferable that the manager of a new MC submits the application and the general concept of action at least 3 months before the planned opening of the MC.

The educational project and documents regarding the multilingual education programme should be submitted in good time.

How to proceed

Application for recognition to become a CSA service provider

The manager must send the application form for state aid - chèque-service accueil pour une mini-crèche by post to the Education and Care Service, Quality Control Unit of the Ministry of Education, Children and Youth.

If necessary, a request for classification should be submitted by email to the following address: commission-classification@men.lu.

Supporting documents

The manager must include the following documents with the application:

  • the application form;
  • the educational project;
  • the general concept of action;
  • for service providers caring for children who are eligible for the multilingual education programme:
    • the EP table (multilingual education table);
    • for supervisory staff working in the Luxembourgish language for 40 hours per week, the CEFR C1 certificates attesting to their command of Luxembourgish;
    • for supervisory staff working in the French language for 40 hours per week, the CEFR C1 certificates attesting to their command of French;
    • training certificates for the educational supervisor.

    Any other supporting documents deemed useful may be requested.

    The general concept of action and the educational project should be sent by email to the following address: qualite.accueil@men.lu.

    The EP table is to be sent electronically and by post (signed table). Supporting documents relating to the EP can be sent electronically.

    Educational project

    The educational project should describe how the MC implements the public service mission which seeks to:

    • enhance social diversity and integration of children at the local-community level and in Luxembourg society;
    • support the children's schooling in the Luxembourg basic education system.

    This educational project must contain a description of the concrete involvement of the mini-crèche at the local-community level in Luxembourg, and its role as an integral player within that social fabric.

    It must also describe the establishment's place in its environment and outline the actions undertaken to strengthen ties with external partners.

    The educational project is assessed and approved by the Minister of Education, Children and Youth.

    In order to establish the educational project, it is essential to consult the relevant explanatory note.

    The general concept of action

    The general concept of action describes the methodological choices, priorities and teaching resources to be implemented at local level in order to comply with each of the objectives set by the national framework of reference.

    It is to be drawn up in accordance with the guidelines of the general concept of action available online at: www.enfancejeunesse.lu.

    The general concept of action is validated for a period of 3 years by the Minister of Education, Children and Youth.

    A new general concept of action must be introduced no later than 6 months before the concept expires, i.e. 2.5 years after validation.

    Multilingual education programme - how to certify level C1?

    To certify C1 proficiency in Luxembourgish, the following are acceptable:

    • a certificate of attendance, for at least 10 school years, at public- or private-sector institutions that apply the Luxembourg curriculum, pursuant to the legislation in force, and particularly as it applies to the use and teaching of Luxembourgish;
    • a "Lëtzebuergesch als Friemsprooch" certificate issued by the National Institute for Languages Luxembourg, attesting to:
      • spoken language skills;
      • comprehension: advanced level (zweeten Diplom, Lëtzebuergesch als Friemsprooch, Héierverständnes);
      • expression: advanced level (zweeten Diplom, Lëtzebuergesch als Friemsprooch, mëndlechen Ausdrock).

    To certify C1 proficiency in French, the following are acceptable:

    • a certificate of attendance, for at least 10 school years, at public- or private-sector institutions applying the French curriculum, and in which the main language of instruction used in the schooling system is French;
    • a Luxembourg secondary-school leaving diploma issued by an establishment in which French is one of the subjects taught up until the end of schooling;
    • a secondary-school leaving or higher-education diploma issued by an establishment in which the main language of instruction is French;
    • a professional skills diploma issued by a vocational-training or higher-educational establishment in which the main language of instruction is French;
    • a valid DELF/DALF certificate, attesting to:
      • spoken language skills;
      • comprehension: level C1;
      • expression: level C1;
    • a valid TCF certificate (open to all), attesting to:
      • spoken language skills;
      • comprehension: level C1;
      • expression: level C1;

    Recognition

    Recognition to operate as a Chèque-Service Accueil service provider will be issued as soon as all prerequisites are met. It can never be granted retroactively.

    Recognition is granted by the Minister of Education, Children and Youth.

Online services and forms

Who to contact

Education and Care Service – Quality Control Unit

  • Ministry of Education, Children and Youth Education and Care Service - Quality Control Unit

    Address:
    33, Rives de Clausen L-2165 Luxembourg Luxembourg
    L-2926 Luxembourg
    Closed ⋅ Opens Monday at 8.30
    Saturday:
    Closed
    Sunday:
    Closed
    Monday:
    8.30 to 11.30 , 14.00 to 17.00
    Tuesday:
    8.30 to 11.30 , 14.00 to 17.00
    Wednesday:
    8.30 to 11.30 , 14.00 to 17.00
    Thursday:
    8.30 to 11.30 , 14.00 to 17.00
    Friday:
    8.30 to 11.30 , 14.00 to 17.00
    from Monday to Friday from 8.30 to 11.30 and from 14.00 to 17.00

Related procedures and links

Procedures

Mini-crèches – Accreditation Staff of a mini-crèche Chèque-Service Accueil (CSA) service provider – education and care service

Links

Further information

Legal references

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