The National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has established guidelines for private schools for ages 3–6. We may assume that private kindergarten must adhere to the same. The commission has outlined the registration procedures for private institutions. They state the teacher-student ratio must be 1:20 and the teaching period should be 3–4 hours a day. They also give guidelines on boundary walls, fire safety, first aid kits, and other aspects of safety. Large private schools that teach kindergarten have modified versions of these rules. For private institutions, following these standards and registration with the authorities is necessary. The authority is usually the district level officer responsible for implementing the Integrated Childhood Development Scheme (ICDS) under the Government of India. Larger schools also have to register with the respective boards.
1. The school should have a boundary wall and alert security guards. Preferably, in bigger schools, the kindergarten section should have extra security. 2. CCTV cameras should be installed in classrooms and corridors. 3. Fall surfaces should be present around the classroom to prevent injuries. 4. Any materials in the classroom (eg. toys) should meet safety standards. 5. Dangerous supplies like scissors should be kept out of reach. If used, it should be with supervision. 6. Electrical outlets should be fitted with childproof covers. 7. Cleaning materials should be locked away. 8. Daily safety checks should be carried out. 9. If swimming is part of the activities, ensure adult supervision at all times.
⦁ Kindergarten should be clean and free of health hazards to children (eg. mold) ⦁ All surfaces should be sanitized regularly. ⦁ Toilets and showers (if applicable) should be cleaned regularly. ⦁ Encourage the practice of washing hands and other hygienic habits in children. ⦁ Staff Qualifications ⦁ Teachers should ideally be qualified in Early Childhood Education. ⦁ They should also be aware of the developmental goals and have plans for the same. ⦁ The kindergarten may be based in schools following a certain ⦁ curriculum. If this is the case, the teacher should understand and prepare students for the same. ⦁ Extra staff, such as caregivers, should meet standards.
⦁ The school should conduct thorough background checks for all the staff. ⦁ For teachers and caregivers, these includes checking if their credentials are genuine. ⦁ Secondary staff, such as bus drivers, security guards, etc. should also be checked. ⦁ Ensure that you question the school about the nature of the background checks.
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