By the SightShield team · · 3 min read
Parents want to see
Bangalore’s working parents rely heavily on daycares, crèches and play schools, many run from converted houses in residential layouts and tech corridors. Trust is everything: parents want to know their child is safe, cared for and collected only by the right person. A well-planned CCTV and access system protects children, gives parents confidence, and protects staff from unfounded complaints.
Where cameras belong
Never place cameras in toilets or nappy-changing areas. Cover the doorway instead so entry and exit are visible.
| Area | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Entrance and gate | Who comes in; pickup and drop-off |
| Play and activity rooms | Supervision and incident review |
| Nap rooms (with care) | Safety while children sleep — discuss with parents |
| Dining area | Feeding and allergy incidents |
| Outdoor play area | Falls and boundary safety |
| Corridors and stairs | Movement between rooms |
Parent live view: do it securely
- Offer live view only of the child’s room, during operating hours, through a secure app with individual logins.
- Never share one common password with all parents.
- Disable recording downloads for parents; only management exports footage.
- Remove access when a child leaves the centre.
- Explain in the enrolment policy that other children appear in the video and that sharing screenshots is not allowed.
Safe pickup
Most incidents parents fear involve the wrong person collecting a child. Use a video door phone at the gate so staff see who is waiting, keep a list of authorised pickup persons with photos, and record each handover at the entrance camera. Face recognition or card systems can log pickups automatically and alert parents.
Face recognition visitor management →Staff verification and attendance
- Police verification and references for every staff member, including helpers and drivers.
- Staff attendance by face terminal so ratios are known at all times.
- Training in the centre’s child protection policy and reporting duties under POCSO.
- Clear rules on mobile phones and photography by staff.
Physical safety
- Gate kept closed with a self-closing latch or electric lock.
- Window restrictors and grills on upper floors.
- Smoke detectors and extinguishers; evacuation plans for non-walking infants.
- Socket covers, furniture anchored, outdoor play surfaces checked.
Privacy and data
Footage of children is sensitive personal data in practice. Under the DPDP Act, processing children’s data needs verifiable parental consent, with some exemptions for educational and childcare purposes. Write a short CCTV policy covering purpose, who can view, retention period and how parents can raise concerns, and get it signed at enrolment.
The DPDP Act and CCTV →An example
A play school in HSR Layout serving 60 children installed eight cameras, a video door phone at the gate, and parent app access limited to each class’s room during school hours. After a parent complained that a child had been left crying for a long time, the recording showed a teacher comforting the child within a minute — and the parent became the school’s strongest recommender.
We set it up carefully
We install cameras, gate access and secure parent viewing for daycares and play schools, with privacy settings that protect every child.
Security for schools →Quick answers
Should daycares give parents live CCTV access?+
Many do, securely: individual logins, only the child’s room, during operating hours, without download rights.
Where should cameras not be placed in a daycare?+
Never in toilets or nappy-changing areas.
How can a daycare ensure safe pickup?+
Use a gate video door phone, an authorised pickup list with photos and recorded handovers.
Do daycares need parental consent for CCTV?+
Children’s data needs parental consent under the DPDP Act, with some exemptions; a clear policy signed at enrolment is advisable.
Do nap rooms need cameras?+
Many daycares cover nap rooms for safe sleep supervision, with parents informed. Discuss it in your policy.
What if a parent asks for a copy of footage?+
Management reviews the request under the CCTV policy; other children appear in clips, so share carefully or show the clip on site.
How long should daycare footage be kept?+
At least 30 days is common, so complaints raised later can be checked.