Key Guidelines for Urban Creches

Although the programme objectives and operating principles remain consistent across rural and urban creches, the operating model of urban creches may need to be adapted to address contextual challenges.

The following guidelines outline the key considerations for establishing and operating creches in urban settlements.

Ward-Level Population Mapping and Scoping

To understand the area/geography after identifying the broad area, we should conduct ward-wise population mapping to assess potential scope for creche services. At this stage, we engage ASHA workers and Anganwadi workers as key informants. ASHA maintains household-level data on residents of the same locality. This data can be used to understand the number of households with young children and working parents. In wards where multiple ASHAs operate, inputs from all relevant ASHA workers need to be consolidated.

Line Listing and Household Visits

In urban settlements, the population is usually dense with no exact physical demarcation of ward boundaries, so to validate ward-level findings, we can conduct a sample line listing in approximately 15–20 households within the identified locality. This exercise will help in:
• Assessing interest and willingness of people
• Understanding family livelihoods and vulnerability
• Identifying families with a genuine need for childcare support

These visits are usually conducted along with the ASHA workers to ensure credibility, acceptance, and accuracy of information.

Initiation of Community Meetings

Based on learnings from household-level listing, the community engagement process is initiated through small group meetings as per the availability of the people to interact with community members, particularly the parents. These meetings can gradually expand into larger groups.

In the community meetings, we should discuss and assess the following aspects:

Number of households where parents (particularly mothers) are working or seeking employment
Currently how parents manage their children aged 7 months to 3 years
Their work-timings
Neighborhood dynamics and community cohesion
General health and nutritional status of children
Basic awareness regarding childcare and health referral status

There should be more than one community meeting planned. It will help to build trust and help to understand the need to establish a creche in the selected locality.

Recruitment of Creche Caregivers

The approach to caregivers’ recruitment mirrors the model followed in rural creches. The detailed criteria for selecting creche caregivers can be found here, caregivers recruited for urban creches should have working knowledge of the dominant mother tongue(s) spoken by the children in the settlement.

Eligibility of Children

All the children aged 7 to 36 months in an informal settlement identified for the programme will be eligible to be enrolled in creches. It is advisable to also assess the number of children who are enrolled in any urban/semi urban play school nearby.

Identification of Creche Site

The criteria for identifying creche sites are outlined here. Additionally, children from neighboring wards or settlements may also attend the creche, provided the distance from their homes remains within accessible limits.

Physical Infrastructure for Creche

Buildings may be rented structures or community-owned spaces such as community halls. Identifying appropriate space within urban informal settlements can be challenging; however, it is essential to ensure that selected spaces are safe, secure, and child-friendly. Minimum safety and structural requirements include:

The overall design and infrastructure of creche sites must ensure physical safety and minimize any potential risks.
The building and materials used in the construction of creche building should be non-inflammable, child-safe, structurally stable, and suitable for extreme weather conditions.
It is not advisable to use temporary structures such as tin sheets or tarpaulin sheets, as these materials may pose safety risks.
Creches should ideally have two rooms or a large hall that could be used as a multi-purpose area for play and sleep by children.
A separate room for kitchen is preferable. If such facility is not possible, the cooking area should be secured with safety gates to prevent access by children.
Creches must include functional toilets with water, soap, clean cloth and child-appropriate handwashing station.

Food and Nutrition

Urban creches follow the food practices outlined here. An additional meal could be provided in creches where children are required to stay extended hours due to the longer working hours of their parents.