Is your Play School safe? How can you tell?

1. Is your Play School safe? How can you tell? X Early childhood is that phase when the child is curious to explore just about everything around him or her. It is also a time that calls for extreme caution to protect the child from any mishapening or injury. Safety is one of the major factors one must keep in mind while choosing a Play School. Eklavya School has been transforming the lives of young people for more than a decade. Founded in 2005, Eklavya School is one of the best play schools in Jalandhar. Recently, the school has become a part of the “Top 50 Schools in India for preparing the students to succeed in the 21stCentury”. The award is instituted by FORTUNE magazine with the Process Audit and evaluation being done by International auditors PWC (Price Waterhouse Coopers). The School has also been awarded the Progressive Principal award by the Fifth Estate. These awards are based on a rigorous check of the safety procedures in place; as well as academic pedagogy. Primary importance is given to the transport norms and stress is laid on implementation of these safety related systems and procedures. Academic excellence, athletic success and spiritual growth remain at the core of education. It is a goal shared by all who have walked through the doors of this exceptional institution, Eklavya School Jalandhar. Do take time out to do a safety check before you decide on a Play School. CCTV cameras Let’s face it, sending a two-year-old to Play School is like sending a large piece of your heart away from yourself. The one thing that can make a big difference to your peace of mind is the availability of CCTV cameras. Pro tip: The school having CCTV cameras is not the same as having operational cameras, so ensure that cameras are working. This does not mean that you have to become a helicopter parent and watch every move of the child, but the safety of the child should not be compromised. Access control Access control is the other significant aspect to watch out for. Remember if it is very easy for you to enter the school as a visitor, chances are that the security isn’t good enough. Besides a security guard, do look out for other access control systems (signing of registers, presence of teachers) that have been put in place. Also enquire about the kind of background checks that the staff has to go through.

2. Drop policy While it may sound like a logistical hassle to ensure that whoever is coming to pick up the child carries the necessary authorisation, it is the single most important factor to watch out for. The school not having enough checks before handing over the child can be a potential security hazard. State of school buses If your child is going to opt for school transport, checking out the state of the school buses and whether or not they have necessary permits becomes important. Besides being well- maintained, they also need to be equipped with first-aid boxes, fire extinguishers and attendants. Child-proof classrooms It is important to walk around the classrooms to ensure that the rooms are clean and well maintained. This means watching out for aspects such as child-friendly toys, puzzles, wall art and more. It is prudent to check out the toys that the child will spend the better part of the day with. It is imperative that the toys are age appropriate and used frequently. Medical facilities Not only does the school need to have the requisite first aid box, but also medical facilities such as a nurse or doctor on call. It also needs to have the necessary tie-up with the nearest hospital in case of any emergencies. Fire and evacuation While you can look around for fire extinguishers, do ask for aspects such as an evacuation plan and whether the staff is adequately trained to handle calamities such as a fire or even other natural calamities such as an earthquake, etc. Non-access to hazardous areas With recent incidents where children have access to hazardous areas such as open water tanks, it is important that you look around the school yourself to check that any drains, bore- wells, tanks, etc are well covered and do not become potential accident sites. Emotional security Besides ensuring the child’s physical security, you also need to watch out for your child’s emotional wellbeing while at school. Do take enough time to discuss what the school’s overall philosophy is and whether that matches with your own parenting style. Corporal punishment of any kind, for example, should be a strict no-no. In checking for all these aspects, remember that physically visiting the place and discussing any concerns that you have work far better than relying on a standard script that you may be told over the phone. Here’s to your child’s safety and to you being able to enjoy these golden years!