Strasbourg’s education authority has admitted “dysfunctions” in how it handled allegations of sexual violence involving a 5-year-old at a preschool, with reports that 11 children were targeted. Parents of pupils at the Schoepflin preschool kept their children home for a day after the accusations emerged mid-September, according to the authority’s findings shared with families. The administrative investigation presented to parents said 11 children at the centre of Strasbourg were allegedly victims during the 2025-2026 school year, with the alleged aggressor said to be a 5-year-old student. The child’s mother worked at the school, the investigation said. The inquiry identified a “series of dysfunctions” by the school, including a lack of coordination between teaching and after-school staff, a “fault” in supervision and communication to parents coming too late. The authority’s official, who spoke to AFP, said the educational and psychological support that should have been put in place was not started “by default of judgement.” He added that the allegations first came to light in October 2025, but the full scale was not understood until July 2026. A protocol for responding to similar cases is being worked on by the Strasbourg academy, with a focus on violence against girls and boys and especially younger children. Because of the alleged child’s age, no criminal prosecution can be brought. The presumption child has been moved to a different school, and the director was also moved to restore trust with families. No disciplinary procedure was initiated because the inquiry found no “intention to harm.” The case status is administrative only, with an intervention protocol planned to prevent similar failures.