In Seine-Saint-Denis, a public health initiative aims to assess the health of children from the age of 3 within kindergarten settings. This program, run by the Department's Maternal and Child Protection (PMI) service, helps identify signs of danger or risk for young children.
Nurses and nursing assistants visit schools to conduct examinations focusing on vision, hearing, language, and overall development. Parents are present and are subsequently referred to specialists or PMI centers based on the results.
During the 2025-2026 school year, 77.5% of 3-4 year olds were examined, an increase from 68.5% the previous year. The most common reasons for specialist referrals included vision difficulties (28%), oral health problems (22%), language disorders (20%), and ENT issues (9%).
To carry out this mission, the Department mobilizes staff from 100 PMI centers and has recruited 17 dedicated pediatric nurses. These comprehensive check-ups, conducted in the second year of kindergarten, aim to prevent difficulties from developing into educational inequalities.
