The safety and security of children are fundamental to the operation of creches under the Creche Initiative. Safeguarding children from any form of harm or potential hazard is of utmost importance in our creches. The creches shall cater to the most vulnerable age group; therefore, utmost care is to be taken to maintain the safety and security of the children without any compromise. Children require a safe and secure environment to grow and develop into healthy adults, and the feeling of safety and security leads to healthy bodies and minds.

Safety and protection are critical for a child's overall development. Therefore, children who feel safe and secure are more likely to explore their environment, try new things, and learn. They are also more likely to develop healthy relationships with themselves and others. Any form of abuse or neglect can have long-lasting effects, especially on the mental and physical health of children.

The safety and security of children are fundamental to the operation of creches under the Creche Initiative.

Potential Risks

To ensure safety and security in our creches, we should first understand the potential dangers/forseible risks to children and aspects they need protection from and recognise them.

Building and outdoor safety

The creche building should be in a safe space, not opening directly to a busy main road or on a very steep level.

There should be a proper staircase (if applicable) or easy entry if the floor is higher than the road, and a separate gate for entering the creche.

The roof, doors, windows and walls should be strong with no leakage and no cracks in walls and on the roof, secure and in good condition (ensured with doing saftey audits before finalising), with enough light and fresh air. (In tribal villages or areas where the houses might not have windows, some ventilation provisioning can be done like insatlling ventilators/samll windows/doors etc).

The creche should preferably be on the ground floor of a safe and secure place and reasonably suited for children with special needs.

The creche centre should not be in a damaged or dilapidated house/building. Repairs should be undertaken at the earliest.

The creche premises should have a proper boundary or fencing with a gate, safe open space for play, no open wells/pit/holes, and no waterlogging or overgrown bushes.

The spaces should not have a distributor transformer right in front of a particular space/in an outdoor play area with open wiring or with any potential hazards.

Kitchen, fire and electrical safety

The kitchen should be separated from the main room and have a door, with a safety gate or door so children cannot enter while cooking.

Inflammable items should not be stored carelessly, and the cooking area for gas should be properly built and safe.

In order to avoid smoke inhalation, use of smokeless chulah is recommended.

Ensure that gas cylinders with valid test date should be connected. 5 Regulator and rubber hose must be checked regularly for cracks or leakage.

Gas cylinder should be placed in a well-ventilated area.

Caregiver/Supervisor should ensure periodic safety checks.

Fire extinguishers, sand bucket and blankets should be kept ready and caregivers should know how to use them.

All electrical wiring should be safe, with switches out of children’s reach, and batteries/inverters kept away from children.

Hygiene and Cleanliness

Food should always be kept covered and the walls and floors should be kept free of cracks and gaps where insects and rodents can hide.

The room and things on the floor should be checked regularly so there are no reptiles, rodents or spiders hiding around.

Doors, windows and water outlet holes should be closed properly when the creche is shut for the day.

Drinking water must be clean, using proper disinfecting and filtration methods.

Waste (fecal matter, organic waste and plastic) should be thrown in a safe, proper way every day.

The creche floors and toys should be cleaned and disinfected regularly to avoid an unsanitary environment.

Child safety during daily routine

Children should sleep on firm mattresses, with safe sleep practices and mosquito nets used as needed.

Toys and play materials should be safe, unbroken and without sharp edges, and sharp objects i.e. scissors, knives, and pins, must be kept away from children.

The room should be kept free of loose or heavy objects that can fall, and wall hangings should be fixed properly.

Water, cooked food, medicines, first-aid kits, chemicals such as detergents and disinfectants are to be kept out of the reach of children.

It is to be ensured that the chulha is extinguished and cooled down after cooking. Embers need to be extinguished and firewood needs to be kept at a safe place. No child should enter the area where firewood is stored.

Small items that children can put in their mouth should be kept away, and food should be given in age-appropriate consistency to reduce choking risk.

Caregivers/Supervisors needs to be careful while wearing ornaments inside creches. One should avoid such ornamentds like- glass bangles (easily breakable), sharp locket/pendents/ear-rings,nose pins.

Care should be taken to ensure that all swings/jhoolas/sarees are fastened to a sturdy support at an appropriate height, not very high. Swings should be used only under adult supervision.

Security and protection

Any kind of abuse—verbal or physical is strictly prohibited.

Sexual abuse and sexual exploitation will be severely dealt with under the POCSO Act, 2012.

Entry to the creche (other than caregivers) and access to children should be controlled, and keep a record of who comes in and picks up each child.

Children should be handed over only to the parents and known guardians of the family. In case the parents of the child or guardian fails to take the child home after creche hours, a Creche Caregiver will drop the child home with a written communication (simple format can be developed locally).

Caregivers and the creche committee should be aware of child abuse, know basic prevention steps, and follow a clear complaint and response process.

Always take written consent from parents before taking or sharing any child’s photograph.

No posting of any child's information/images on social media without explicit approval.

Photos can be taken only for official documentation purposes.

Safety Indicators

Infrastructural & Environmental Safety

Is the structural safety of the creche's roof and walls ensured? *

Is the creche protected from rainwater leakage?*

Is any well/tube well within 20 m radius of the creche? *

If yes, is it properly covered with an iron net (inside & outside)?*

Are sharp edge cutters or machinery kept away from the creche?*

Physical Safety & Security

Is there external fencing around the creche?

Is there a safety gate at the main entrance?*

Is there a safety gate at the kitchen entrance?*

Is the creche secured against the entry of poisonous animals (snakes, scorpions) as well as domestic animals (dogs, cats, cows, hens)?*

Is the entry of any person other than parents in the creche recorded in the visitor’s register?

Fire Safety

Is there a separate slab or table for the gas stove positioned above cylinder height?*

Is a fire extinguisher available and in working condition?*

Are fire blankets and fire buckets available in the kitchen for fire-related emergencies?*

Is the caregiver confident in handling a pressure cooker?

Electrical Safety

Are all electrical connections positioned out of children's reach?*

Are fans and lights installed at a safe location and height?*

Are solar panels or batteries kept out of children’s reach?*

Is lightening arrestors installed in the creche building?

Food Safety

Are food grains and rice utilized in first come first out manner?*

Are egg floating tests done periodically to check the quality of eggs?*

Is leftover food disposed of properly every day?*

Others

During your visit, is the creche running with two caregivers?*

Is a fully equipped first-aid box available in the creche?*

Are emergency contact numbers clearly displayed?
*Non-Negotialbe

Fire Safety Components

Many creche centers have kitchens using either smokeless chulhas or LPG gas connections for cooking. While these are necessary for meal preparation, they pose potential fire risks. Fire safety in creches therefore focuses on:

Prevention: Avoiding incidents through safe practices.

Preparedness and Response: Minimizing damage and ensuring child safety if an incident occurs.

*Essential Equipment *

Each creche must have: 1. Fire bucket with Sand 2. Fire blanket 3. Fire Extinguisher (ABC type) 4. Kitchen Safety gates

1. Fire bucket with sand

A fire bucket is a sturdy metal usually, painted red and clearly labelled “FIRE” kept filled with dry sand for use in small, early‑stage fires. It is used to control or extinguish fires . Ensure that the sand is loose. Check frequently on this. If the sand becomes tight/concentrated, it will be difficult to use it during emergencies.

Installation guideline

Position at clearly visible, unobstructed points near exits, kitchen, electrical distribution board, and outdoor play area, mounted on a wall stand or frame at adult waist/eye level so that children cannot access it.
9–12 liters (standard size) to hold sufficient sand.
Clearly label the bucket “FIRE ONLY” and do not use it for cleaning or storage; keep it filled with dry sand and check levels regularly as part of the creche safety checklist.
Display simple pictorial instructions nearby and orient all staff, including caregivers on when and how to use the fire bucket and when to stop and evacuate instead.

2. Fire blanket

A fire blanket is a flat sheet of fire‑resistant material (commonly fiberglass or treated wool) packed in a wall‑mounted container, designed to smother small fires by cutting off the oxygen supply. It can be used to smother small pan or utensil fires in kitchens and to put out fires on a person’s clothing by carefully wrapping the blanket around them. It can be used as temporary protection (wrapped around a child or adult) while moving past a small fire during evacuation, when no other safe route is available.

Installation guideline

Install at eye level of caregivers, close to the kitchen/cooking area and at any high‑risk zone with the pull‑tabs clearly visible and reachable by an adult but out of reach of children.
Ensure the front of the container has clear pictorial instructions for pulling down the blanket and covering the fire; include these steps in caregivers’ fire‑safety training.
Always keep the area in front of the fire blanket unobstructed and inspect the casing regularly for damage, moisture ingress, or tampering; replace the blanket if it is soiled, torn, or has been used once. *Standard Sizes: 1.2 x 1.2 meters, 1.2 x 1.8 meters, or larger (as per requirements)

3. Fire extinguisher

A fire extinguisher is a portable cylinder containing pressurized extinguishing agent (such as water, foam, dry chemical powder, or CO₂) used to control small fires in their initial stage. Primarily used for small, contained fires in kitchens, store rooms, electrical areas, following the PASS sequence: Pull pin, Aim at the base, Squeeze handle, Sweep side to side.

Caregiver or an adult should attempt to use an extinguisher only if the fire is small, the exit is clear behind them, and they are trained; otherwise evacuate children immediately.

Installation guideline

Provide the appropriate type of extinguisher (ABC) for the risk and check the fire extinguisher pressure gauge monthly; refill if the needle falls below the green zone.
Mount extinguishers on walls along escape routes and near exits at about 1–1.5 m above floor level so children cannot tamper with them, ensuring they are visible and accessible with signage in local language and simple symbols.
Conduct regular check (at least monthly visual checks and annual servicing by authorized technicians) and include hands‑on demonstration for all creche staff and caregivers during orientation and periodic fire safety drills.
Monitor expiry dates quarterly and replace expired extinguishers.
Test LPG regulators monthly to ensure they stop gas flow properly.
Never place items over the gas cylinder; this allows easy visibility of the regulator.

4. Safety gates

The safety gates (entry gate and kitchen) should be secure, with proper locking mechanisms to prevent unauthorized access or accidental exits. While the kitchen gates act as a barrier to restrict children’s access to the kitchen area.

Specifications for safety gates –

The gate should open smoothly and require minimal effort to operate for adults while being secure for children.
Use child-safe, durable materials like wood with rounded edges. Ensure the materials are non-toxic and free of sharp edges.
Gate height should be at least 1.2 meters (4 feet) to prevent children from climbing over. The horizontal strip of the wood shall not be more than three, to avoid children climbing over the gate.
Equip gates with locks that are accessible to adults but childproof (e.g., latch locks placed at a height of 1.5 meters or higher).
Avoid gaps wider than 10cm to prevent children from getting stuck or slipping through.
Add net so that children will be restarined to stand between the gaps.
Use hinges that minimize the risk of pinching small fingers.

Grievance & Emergency handling

Grievance

There are times when, despite the best effort, the services provided through the creches might receive complaints from the community/ Parents. It should not be taken negatively but should be used as opportunities for critical reflection. A fair, accessible, responsive, and efficient grievance management system would help in:

Addressing minor issues before they become more serious.
Improving the quality of care being delivered, gain insights into the needs and wants of families and children.
Encouraging service delivery to improve over a period.
Building positive relationships with the community

The grievance handling can be done through the following steps:

Sensitising the community/parents regarding the freedom of registering grievances that pertain to the proper functioning of the créches.
Receiving grievances in the grievance registers or in visitors registers or by dropping written grievances in the grievance boxes. The Creche Caregivers must facilitate the process.
Creche Caregivers to share the complaint received from the community/parents with the Creche Supervisor immediately. Creche Supervisor to assess the grievance by collecting necessary information and evidence. Depending on the analysis of the grievance, it can either be resolved through mutual discussion with the caregiver/community or can be escalated to the Creche Coordinator for proper redressal.
The Parents/ community should be given information regarding the receipt of the grievance and the steps being taken to address it. This should be done to restore confidence that the grievance is given due importance.
The actions to be initiated regarding the grievances should be mutually agreed upon.
The decisions should be documented in the grievance/visitors register.
The decisions for redressing the grievances should be followed up on a regular basis by the Creche Supervisor and Creche Coordinator.

Emergency Handling

Medical emergencies: These are situations where a child is very sick or badly hurt, for example high fever that does not come down, fits, severe diarrhea, infections that can spread to others, burns, deep cuts, falls or pressure cooker accidents in the kitchen.

Preventive means “stopping it from getting worse or spreading”: caregivers notice early signs, isolate the child if it is infectious, inform parents, call or send the child to the nearby PHC, and stay in touch with health workers.

Curative means “what to do after it has happened” give basic first aid that caregivers have been trained in (like cooling a burn, cleaning a wound, keeping the child lying on the side during fits) and immediately inform to Parents, ASHA and supervisor.

Fire emergencies- This includes any fire started by gas, chulha, electricity or any flame in the kitchen or anywhere inside the creche building.

Preventive steps are about making sure fire does not start or spread: Have a separate kitchen, do not let children enter the kitchen, capacitate caregivers on how to use fire extinguishers, keep fire blankets and buckets ready and make sure all these are working.

Curative steps are for when a fire actually happens: raise an alarm, move children away to a safe place, try to control the fire only if it is safe to do so, give basic first aid for burns or smoke and immediately informed Parents, ASHA and supervisor.

Disaster emergencies- These are big events that affect the whole area, like cyclones, floods, heat waves, earthquakes or when part of the building collapses or becomes unsafe.

Preventive actions include deciding not to open the creche on days with cyclone/ extreme heat wave warnings, checking the building structure regularly, installing lightning conductors with proper earthing ( in lightning prone area) and safety manager’s visit and monitoring the building from time to time. Curative actions focus on keeping everyone safe after the event: evacuate children to a safe spot, give first aid to anyone injured.

Death of a child at the creche- It is the rare and very serious case that a child dies inside the creche premises, there must be a clear and respectful process that everyone follows.

Creche caregivers needs to inform parents immediately, and then creche supervisor, coordinator, program manager, local health workers (for verbal autopsy) and the foundation members, so that support, documentation and legal requirements are all properly handled.

Death of an enrolled child outside the creche: Sometimes a child who is enrolled in the creche may die at home or somewhere else. This is still important for the creche to know and record. It needs to be informed to the supervisor, coordinator, program manager, health workers (for verbal autopsy) so that records are updated, and any patterns or program risks can be understood.

Child abuse cases: Child abuse can be physical, emotional, sexual or neglected, and any such incident at the creche or by someone associated with the creche is treated as a serious emergency. Preventive work includes regularly aware caregivers and supervisors on child protection laws, making sure only authorized people can enter the creche and maintaining a clear visitor register.

Curative response means acting firmly if something happens immediately, removing or terminating the person involved, keeping the child safe and supported, and strictly following all government rules, reporting and legal steps.