| Summary: | What is the social equality of access to kindergarten, the main means of entry into the education system? In Brussels, population growth combined with the social and economic divide threaten equal access to kindergarten. The demand for pre-school education starts at age 2 ½ and is widespread in the region, while the number of children has increased considerably, especially in the poorest neighbourhoods. The study presents an analysis of enrolment statistics per municipality and shows that in many areas, there is a widespread saturation of kindergartens despite the opening of more than 300 additional classes since 2000‑2001. This situation has led the organising authorities to enact new enrolment regulations, mainly for the first year of kindergarten and for the welcoming class. An exploratory qualitative survey shows that these regulations are not neutral with respect to the social and cultural conditions of families. They constitute the basis of an unfair system of access to kindergarten at the expense of families whose children would benefit most from starting school in kindergarten. They also have a negative impact on access to nurseries by delaying the age of access to kindergarten until age 3 and up.
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