Carmel Caterpillars Preschool

Carmel Caterpillars Pre-School

Uncollected Child Safeguarding Children Policy

Policy Statement

In the event that a child is not collected by an authorised adult at the end of a session/day. the setting puts in to practice agreed procedures. These ensure the child is cared for safely by an experienced and qualified practitioner who is known to the child. We will ensure that the child receives a high standard of care in order to cause as little distress as possible.

We inform parents/carers of our procedures so that if they are unavoidably delayed, they will be reassured that their child will be properly cared for. It is the parent's responsibility to collect their child at the end of each session or to arrange for an appropriate adult to collect their child. The Pre-School must be informed of any person collecting their child other than that of the known person, who must be able to tell us the password. If the password is not known by the person collecting the child, the Pre-School will NOT allow the child to go home with that person. 

Procedures

• Parents of children starting at the setting are asked to provide the following specific information which is recorded on our Registration form:

1. Home address and telephone number - if the parents do not have a telephone, an alternative number must be given, perhaps a neighbour or close relative.
2. Place of work, address and telephone number ( if applicable)
3. Mobile telephone number ( if applicable)
4. Names, addresses, telephone numbers and signatures of adults who are authorised by the parents to collect their child from the setting, for example a childminder or grandparent.
5. Who has parental responsibility for the child.
6. Information about any person who does not have legal access to the child. 

• On occasions when parents are aware that they will not be at home or in their usual place of work, they inform us of how they can be contacted. 
• On occasions when parents or the persons normally authorised to collect the child are not able to collect the child, they provide us with written details of the name, address and telephone number of the person who will be collecting their child. We agree with parents how to verify the identity of the person who is to collect their child. This person must have the password in order to be able to pick up their child. 
• We do NOT allow the collection of children by anyone under the age of 18. 
• Parents are informed that if they are not able to collect their child as planned, they must inform us so that we can begin to make up back up measures. We provide parents with our contact telephone number. 
• We inform parents that we apply our child protection procedures as set out in our Child Protection Policy, in the event that their child is not collected from the setting by an authorised adult within one hour after the setting has closed, and the staff can no longer supervise the child on our premises.
• If the child is not collected at the end of the session/day, we follow these procedures:

1. The child's file is checked for any information about changes to the normal collection routines. 
2. If no information is available, parents/carers are contacted at home or at work. If this is unsuccessful, the adults who are authorised by the parents to collect their child from the setting, and who's telephone numbers are recorded on the Registration Form, are contacted, and asked to come and collect the child. 
3. All reasonable attempts are made to contact the parents, or nominated carers. 
4. The child does not leave the Pre-School with anyone other than those named on the Registration Form or in their file. 
5. If no-one collects the child after one hour and there is no-one who can be contacted to collect the child, we apply the procedures for uncollected children. 
6. We contact our local authority children's social services care team
7. The child stays at the Pre-School in the care of two fully vetted workers, until the child is safely collected, either by the parents, or by a social care worker. 
8. Social care will aim to find the parent or relative. If they are unable to do so, the child will become looked after by the local authority. 
9. Under no circumstances do staff go to look for the parent, nor do they take the child home with them. 

• A full written report of the incident is recorded in the child's file. 
• The parent will be charged for the additional time worked by the staff. The rate for an uncollected child is £5.00 for every 15 minutes. 

The original of this document was signed on behalf of Carmel Caterpillars Pre-School Committee by the current chairperson.