Policy for collecting children from school 2023

Purpose

To ensure the safeguarding of all children, it is essential that the school has a procedure in place for the safe collection of all children at the end of a school day, and guidance for parents in the event of them being late/unable to collect their child.

Aims

  • To keep children safe.
  • To ensure that all members of the school community are aware of the correct procedures for the end of the school day.
  • To highlight the importance of maintaining clear lines of communication and up-to-date contact details.

Policy

  • The school expects children to be collected at the end of the school day, which is 3.30 p.m.
  • The school gates are opened at 3.20 p.m. Parents are reminded to keep the area around the classroom doors clear to enable children to make a safe exit.
  • Children may walk home on their own as long as the class teacher has been made aware and the risk has been assessed by parents and child.
  • If the person expected to collect the child is not there, the child will stay with the class teacher. Any child not collected within 10 minutes will be taken to the office and should be collected from there.

Guidance for parents/carers in the event of a parent/carer not arriving to collect their child at the end of the school day

As a parent/carer, it is your responsibility to ensure that your child is collected at the end of the school day.

Please ensure that the school has up-to-date telephone numbers to contact
you in an emergency.

  • If you are unexpectedly delayed and are unable to collect or will be late collecting your child from school, please contact the school immediately 01524 241592
  • If you arrange for another adult to collect your child, you must let the school know the details of that person.
  • If you or an identified adult have/ has not arrived by 4.30 p.m. to collect your child, the school will contact the Customer Service Centre (Children’s Social Care).

If a parent/carer does not arrive to collect their child at the end of the school day and the school has not been made aware of alternative arrangements, school will take the following steps:

  1. The teacher will bring the child/children inside and ensure they are supervised.
  2. Children who have not been collected by 3.40p.m. will be supervised in the Key Stage 2 area
  3. A member of staff will check with the office whether the parent/carer has telephoned and left instructions or an estimated time of arrival.
  4. If no contact has been made by the parent/carer, the office staff will attempt to contact the parent/carer and the emergency contact by telephone.
  5. Where appropriate, a member of staff will sensitively ask the child whether there is a reason that could account for their parent/carer being late.
  6. Where appropriate, a member of staff will ask the child if they have any additional contact information.
  7. School will continue to try and contact the parent/carer and the emergency contact/s.
  8. If contact cannot be made with the parent/carer or the emergency contact/s by 4.30 p.m., school will contact the Customer Service Centre (Children’s Social Care).
  9. In an emergency, school will contact the police

We will not allow your child to be taken home by another adult unless this has previously been arranged by the parent/carer and s/he has given permission.

Parents will be informed of the policy in a letter at the start of term.

This policy will be reviewed in the autumn term of 2024 by the Governing Body of Ingleton Primary School.