by Sonali Rai
Published On : 7 Dec | 6 min Read
Running a crèche today is no longer just about providing enough care for children of working mothers. Creches cannot run on their own accord. There are specific structures and compliance measures that they must follow to operate in accordance with government rules and regulations in India, as outlined in the National Minimum Standards (February 2024). Crèches, preschools, and investors now operate in a far more accountable ecosystem.
Whether you are setting up a new crèche, adding a daycare to an existing preschool, or supporting your employees with childcare crèche options, having the right system and following the compliance helps. The good news is that compliance does not need to be very complicated for all to understand.
What do you really understand by a crèche? A crèche is a childcare facility for children 6 months to 6 years of age while parents are at work. Unlike informal spaces for childcare, crèches are better regulated and held to higher standards for safety, staffing, hygiene, and child development facilities.
Why the tighter regulations for crèches?
Creches today are expected to care for the child, observe and document their development, and communicate with the parents clearly and regularly so there are no gaps, surprises, or guesswork.
The national minimum guidelines for crèche (2024) set a baseline that every crèche (independent, preschool-led led or employer-led) must adhere to.
Key highlights include:
|
Area |
Requirement |
|
Space |
10–12 sq. ft per child |
|
Staffing |
1 supervisor + 1 helper per 25–30 children |
|
Safety |
CCTV, fenced windows, first-aid |
|
Monitoring |
Attendance, health & inspection records |
|
Governance |
Crèche Administrative Committee (CAC) |
For investors and preschool owners, this signals one thing clearly: systems matter as much as space.
Understanding crèche facility rules is one thing. Running them every day is another. Daily compliance includes:
Many crèches struggle because of manual work overload.
A growing number of crèches nowadays rely on digital platforms to manage many of these requirements smoothly, without burdening caregivers with paperwork.
The crèche facility law in India stems from:
|
Law |
When Crèche Is Mandatory |
|
Maternity Benefit Act |
50+ employees |
|
Factories Act |
30+ women workers |
This is why many corporates, institutions, and even preschools (tying up with big companies) are proactively setting up crèche facilities to stay compliant and future-ready.
Yes, but not for everyone. A crèche facility is mandatory only for specific establishments under labour laws. However, for preschools and education-led institutions, adding a crèche is increasingly seen as:
Mandatory or not, well-run crèches are becoming the norm in a society that largely depends on external organisations to raise children for working parents.
|
Factor |
Crèche |
Daycare |
|
Legal requirement |
Yes (in some cases) |
No |
|
Linked to the employer |
Often |
Usually independent |
|
Regulation level |
High |
Moderate |
|
Documentation |
Mandatory |
Varies |
For preschools planning to add daycare, understanding this distinction is critical, because once you call it a crèche, compliance is non-negotiable.
Compliance is only half the equation. The other half? Developmentally appropriate care. Teeny Beans’ Toddlers curriculum is specially made for developing infants.
Teeny Beans supports crèches with a structured Mother–Toddler Curriculum, designed specifically for:
The curriculum focuses on:
For crèches, this ensures:
Importantly, it also supports documentation, which regulators and parents increasingly expect.
An augmented curriculum adds value to early education by extending learning beyond books and worksheets. An augmented curriculum contains
Helps children learn letter sounds and start reading easily. It makes reading fun through songs and activities.
Helps children hold the pencil correctly and write neatly. Writing becomes easy and enjoyable with fun movements. Writo is a movement-based handwriting program for kids.
Helps children understand numbers and counting. It builds memory and thinking skills in a fun way.
Introduces children to simple French words and sounds. It helps improve listening and brain development.
Helps children stay calm, active, and focused. It supports both physical and emotional well-being.
Running a crèche efficiently today requires more than registers. This is where aKadmy, a digital platform, becomes highly relevant for crèches and preschool-led daycare models.
For investors and operators, this reduces operational risk and increases trust, scalability, and audit readiness.
Government crèches operate under stricter oversight. Whether department-run or empanelled, documentation and reporting are critical.
This is why structured curriculum frameworks and digital platforms are increasingly preferred, as they reduce dependency on individual staff members and ensure standardized quality.
For preschools exploring crèche facilities for employees or working parents:
The most successful models today combine:
Adding a crèche is not just for expanding your centre or providing a facility for your employees; it’s a serious responsibility. When regulations, curriculum, and systems work together, crèches move from being a liability to becoming a long-term asset.
And in today’s childcare ecosystem, doing it right from day one is not just safer, it’s smarter.
