Lost Child Policy

 

Policy Statement

Children’s safety is maintained as the highest priority at all times both on and off premises. Every attempt is made to ensure the security of our children is maintained at all times. In the unlikely event of a child going missing, our Lost Child Procedure is followed.

procedure

Security

Before the children arrive, the Supervisor will go round and check all doors leading into the hall are locked with the alarm on so that no access can be obtained.

As the children arrive and leave, the Supervisor will wait at the main entrance and check that no children are leaving without their parent/carer.

When all children have arrived and have started the register, the Supervisor will double bolt the gate and shut the stair gate and secure the door in the corridor.

A risk assessment is carried out prior to opening every morning.

All internal doors are alarmed and sound when the door is opened.

Checking Child Numbers

As the children self register, they place their name on a numbered board so that we instantly know how many children are present at Pre-school.

All staff are given a safety notice as part of their induction, regular headcounts are taken throughout the morning. 

Staff make it known when they take a child/children to the toilet.

Procedure for a Missing Child

In the unlikely event of a child going missing, the following procedure will be implemented immediately. Check all members of staff are present first as child maybe with them. 

Alert staff by saying code words “ A disappearance has happened”.

Staff Procedure:

  • Do a headcount.

  • Check register.

  • Staff must check all corridors, toilets, club room, new hall and back stage to see if a breach of security has occurred whereby a child could have wandered out.  Another staff member to check the outside area and the perimeter of the hall..

  • Assemble all the children on the mat for a story to maintain as normal a routine as possible for the rest of the children.

  • The Supervisor must contact the police and the parents of the child.  Also contact Chair.

  • The Supervisor talks to the staff to find out when and where the child was last seen and records this.

  • The Supervisor allocates a member of staff to keep looking for the missing child.

  • The Supervisor will meet the police and the parent/carer and will then await instructions from the police.

  • With incidents of this nature parents, carers, children and staff may require support and reassurance following the traumatic experience. Management will provide this or seek further support where necessary.

  • In any cases with media attention staff will not speak to any media representatives

  • Post-incident risk assessments will be conducted following any incident to prevent it happening again.

    Procedure for a Missing Child

    This describes what to do when staff have taken a group of children on an outing away from the setting.

    What to do when a child goes missing from a whole setting outing may be a little different, if parents have attended and are responsible for their own child for example a trip to Blackberry Farm. In which instance the parent would search for their missing child and the staff would provide back up help and if necessary would contact the police whilst the parent continues to search.

  • We record a photograph of all children on an ipad before they go out in order to be able to give details of the clothing they were wearing to the Police or anyone searching for them.

  • As soon as it is noticed that a child is missing, staff will tell the children to stand still and take a headcount. One staff member searches the immediate vicinity but does not search beyond that.

  • The Supervisor is contacted immediately and the incident is reported.

  • The Supervisor contacts the police and reports the child as missing.

  • The Supervisor contacts the parent, who makes their way to the setting or outing venue.

  • Staff take the remaining children back to the setting and one adult will stay in the vicinity of the area and will continue searching the immediate area (with a mobile phone) where the child was last seen in case the child returns.

  • In an indoor venue, the staff contact the venue’s security who will handle the search and contact the police if the child is not found.

  • The Supervisor contacts the Chair and reports the incident. The Chair will carry out an investigation and may come to the setting immediately.

    The Investigation

    Staff should remain calm and logical throughout and do not let the other children become anxious or worried.

  • The Supervisor and Chair speak with the parent(s).

  • The Chair will carry out a full investigation taking written statements from all the staff in the room or who were on the outing.

  • The Chair and Supervisor will record the incident and inform Ofsted and SPoA and follow any further instructions.

  • The insurance provider should also be informed.

This policy is known, agreed and implemented by all staff.

 This policy is known and made available to all parents. 

 This policy was reviewed January 2020.