On 21 March 2025, the Réseau National de la Médiation Scolaire (RNMS) day was held in Ivry-sur-Seine, organised by an inter-associative network of which Action Education is a member. The aim of the day was to help define and recognise this relatively new and little-known profession. It was a meeting rich in exchanges with school mediation professionals from all over France.
School mediator: what does it involve?
Despite the lack of official data and the absence of a monitoring centre for children who do not attend school, despite requests from a number of players, it is estimated that several tens of thousands of children do not attend school and/or attend school intermittently in France. The vast majority of them are living in very precarious conditions: in squats, shanty towns, social hotels or on the streets. For these children, precariousness, administrative barriers and discrimination make it difficult, if not impossible access to quality education, and its maintenance.
The role of the school mediator is to facilitating access, maintenance and well-being of these children at school. Mediators work mainly with children and young people who are far removed from the school system, and whose living conditions are often neglected by institutions. Their role: provide a link between families and institutionsThe aim is to get children into school or back into school, to provide them with individualised support and to ensure that they are better received by institutions.
The role of the school mediator
Rrotecting out-of-school children and young people
Making it easier to enrol or re-enrol your child in school
Improving the welcome and inclusion of children and their families at school
Removing barriers to education
Supporting students in their school careers
Raising awareness among school staff difficulties linked to precariousness and discrimination, particularly racism, that these groups have to face on a daily basis
The triptych of school mediation
A day dedicated to school mediation: why?
The job of school mediator is a real challenge. a recent and still little-known professionThe contours of this role are gradually taking shape, thanks to feedback from the field and the diversity of the missions and profiles of these professionals. In France, there is a fifty or so mediators throughout the country, most of which are financed by the Délégation interministérielle à l'hébergement et à l'accès au logement (DIHAL) or by associations.
The event on 21 March brought together associations and professionals involved in school mediation. around one objective : contribute to the recognition and enhancement of this profession. Thanks to these annual meetings, the Réseau National de la Médiation Scolaire (National Network for School Mediation) is continuing its work to develop a "professional reference framework" and a collective positioning at national level with the public authorities.
On the programme for the day
Time to get to know each other The aim is to provide a forum for sharing experiences, difficulties and challenges, as well as sharing best practice, etc.
Workshops devoted to the education of young secondary school pupils with disabilities.school dropout Participants were asked to imagine an ideal system, the "ideal college where young people feel good". Objective: to identify
the structural causes of the difficulties encountered by school mediators, the levers that could be used to overcome these obstacles and the resources required.Job reference workshop This year's theme is: exchanging views on the tasks and skills required to carry out this profession, as well as on the diversity of profiles and training.
Time to get to know each other Advocacy workshop: each participant was invited to modify and/or support the various recommendations drawn up by the national school mediation network during the national meetings
The national school mediation network
This inter-associative* network, of which Action Education is a member, brings together organisations that take action in the following areas to promote schooling for children in extremely precarious and/or vulnerable situations. Most of these organisations employ school mediators. One of its aims is to bring together at least once a year all those who carry out, accompany and support school mediation activities working with children and families in very precarious situations: social mediators, social workers, volunteers, network coordinators, project managers, etc.
The role of the national school mediation network
Based on experiments and feedback from local situations and local players to provide input for discussions at national level on the business reference framework and joint advocacy
Taking a collective stance To be represented by the National School Mediation Network
Support school mediators and professionals on a daily basis
*National Human Rights Collective Romeurope, C.L.A.S.S.E.S, Enchanted School, Rencont'roms nous, Unicef France, Action Education
