When a child blows out their three candles, the family budget changes its face. The PreParE comes to an end, the childcare mode evolves, and the question of school supplies arrives sooner than expected. For many parents, it is at this precise moment that uncertainty sets in regarding the assistance they can still claim from the CAF, particularly the back-to-school allowance.
End of the PreParE and transition of CAF aids at age 3
A parent on parental leave receiving the PreParE (shared child education benefit) sees this aid stop on the third birthday of their youngest child. This is not just an administrative detail: it represents a net loss of monthly income, sometimes poorly anticipated.
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From this date, the CAF redirects to other schemes. The free choice of childcare supplement (CMG), integrated into the Paje, takes over for families using a childminder, home care, or a micro-crèche. The aid covers part of the salary paid and social contributions. Here we find a classic pattern: the CAF does not eliminate aids; it shifts them towards childcare and returning to work.
Specifically, families concerned by the back-to-school allowance in France at age 3 must also check their eligibility for the CMG, as these two benefits do not substitute for one another. They cover distinct expense categories: school supplies on one side, after-school care on the other.
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ARS before age 6: the specific case of starting CP
The back-to-school allowance targets children aged 6 to 18. This is the general rule, and it surprises parents of children enrolled in kindergarten from age 3. No automatic payment of the ARS is planned for kindergarten.
An exception exists for children who are not yet 6 but are entering CP in September. In this case, the family can receive the ARS by providing a school enrollment certificate to the CAF. This document proves enrollment in elementary school and triggers the payment.
Why kindergarten is excluded from the scheme
The legislator designed the ARS to compensate for expenses related to compulsory schooling, which formally begins at age 3 since the 2019 law, but for which the costs of supplies and equipment are considered lower in kindergarten than in elementary school. The supply lists for petite, moyenne, and grande sections remain limited compared to those for CP or CE1.
For families with a child aged 3 to 5, there is therefore no ARS, but other levers can help reduce the back-to-school bill.
Local aids for 3-6 year-olds: what the CAF does not cover
Municipalities, departments, and regions are developing complementary schemes that specifically target the 3-6 age group, where the national ARS does not yet apply. These aids vary from one territory to another, but recurring formats can be found:
- Vouchers for school supplies distributed by the town hall, often subject to residency and family quotient conditions, usable in partner stores or directly at school
- Subsidies for school meals, with sliding scale rates calculated based on income declared to the CAF, sometimes starting from the petite section of kindergarten
- Aids for school transport for families living far from the designated school, partially or fully covered by the department or community of municipalities
- Contributions to after-school care costs (morning, evening, Wednesday care), funded by CCAS or intercommunalities
These schemes are not centralized on the CAF website. You need to contact your town hall or check your departmental council’s website to find out about available aids. Feedback varies on this point: some municipalities communicate very well about these aids as soon as school registration occurs, while others reserve them for families who request them.
Amount of the ARS and resource conditions from age 6
When the child reaches the required age (6 years before December 31 following the start of the school year, or effective entry into CP), the ARS is paid in one lump sum, usually in August. The amount depends on the child’s age group.
The ARS is subject to a resource ceiling calculated based on the income of year N-2. Families whose income slightly exceeds this ceiling may receive a differential allowance, meaning a reduced amount proportionate to the gap with the threshold.
Procedures based on family situation
For children aged 6 to 15 already known to the CAF, the payment is automatic if the income declaration is up to date. No additional steps are required.
From age 16, it is necessary to declare each year that the child is still in school or in apprenticeship. This declaration is made online on the CAF website, usually starting from mid-July.
Returning to work and combining aids after age 3
The transition past age 3 often coincides with a parent’s return to work after parental leave. In this context, the CAF offers the activity bonus, accessible to employees and self-employed workers subject to income conditions. This bonus can be combined with family allowances and, when the time comes, with the ARS.
For single parents, the family support allowance (ASF) continues after the child turns 3. It also combines with other benefits, including the ARS as soon as the child reaches the required age.
The reflex to have: update your situation on the CAF personal space as soon as the child starts school. A change in childcare mode, a return to work, or a move alters rights. Recalculations are not always retroactive, and a late report can delay payment by several weeks.
The period following the child’s third birthday is not a gap in the aid system, but rather a turning point. Benefits change in nature, shifting from young child care to educational support and employment. The ARS only arrives from age 6 (unless entering CP early), but other aids take over in the meantime, provided they are identified in your area.