The decision was unanimously approved by the Communal Council on September 28, 2026, formalizing a new partnership that ensures service continuity. The nursery, located at 30 rue du Confluent in the former post office building in Chênée, was previously managed by ASBL Espaces d’enfances.
Facing the imminent risk of closure, the City of Liège mobilized alongside ASBL Step Accueil, the Office de la Naissance et de l’Enfance (ONE), and the former organizer. Following an initial meeting on June 10, the Communal College gave its in-principle agreement on June 19, paving the way for this takeover.
ASBL Step Accueil will officially take over the management of the nursery starting October 1, 2026. The convention, valid for 15 months, will extend until December 31, 2027, coinciding with the end of the current premises' occupancy. Future organizational arrangements are already under review.
Benjamin Hurard, Alderman of the City of Liège responsible for childhood matters, emphasized the importance of this decision: "Behind these 21 places are children, parents, and entire family structures that would have been disrupted by a closure. Our priority was to find a concrete solution to preserve this local childcare."
The agreement includes a municipal operating subsidy of 1,636.63 euros per place per year, amounting to an annual base of 34,369.23 euros for the 21 spots. This contribution will be prorated for the last three months of 2026 and indexed in 2027.
The places will remain subsidized by the ONE, with parental financial contributions calculated based on household income. The agreement also prioritizes enrollment for children with at least one parent residing in Liège, in chronological order of applications.
This partnership aligns with action 1 of the transversal strategic program "Liège 2030," which aims to improve nursery offerings and facilitate registrations. It materializes the City's commitment to strengthening childcare capacity within its territory.
