Children Non collection

Policy statement

In the event, that a child is not collected by an authorised adult at the end of a session, we put into practice agreed procedures. These ensure the child is cared for safely by an experienced and qualified practitioner who is known to the child. The child will receive 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 children will be properly cared for.

Procedures

• Parents of children starting at the setting are asked to provide the following specific  information, which is recorded on our Admissions Form:
• 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.
• Place of work, address and telephone number (if applicable).
• Mobile telephone number (if applicable).
• 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.
• Who has parental responsibility, for the child.
• 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 in writing 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 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.
• All children must be picked up by an appropriate person over the age of 16 (or the parent if the parent is under the age of 16)
• We operate a password system to ensure the eligibility of the person collecting the child. The child’s password is kept with the child’s admission form.  Staff will ask the person collecting the child for the password and check it matches our records before allowing the child to leave with that person.
• No, child is allowed, to leave the Preschool with anyone not authorised by the parents. 
• Parents are informed that if they are not able to collect the child as planned, they must inform us so that we can begin to take back-up measures.  We provide parents with our contact telephone number.
• We inform parents that we apply our child protection procedures, in the event, that their children are not collected 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 a child is not collected at the end of the session, we follow the procedures below:
• The child’s file is checked for any information about changes to the normal collection routines.
• 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 whose telephone numbers are recorded on the Registration Form - are contacted.
• All reasonable attempts are made to contact the parents or nominated carers.
• The child does not leave the premises with anyone other than those named on the Registration Form or in their file.
• If no-one collects the child after the setting has closed and there is no-one who can be contacted to collect the child, we apply the procedures for uncollected children.
• We contact our local authority children’s social care team: 02380 833336
• The child stays at the setting in the care of two fully-vetted workers until the child is safely collected either by the parents or by a social care worker.
• 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.
• Under no circumstances will 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.
• Ofsted may be informed:

  Children’s Services 0300 123 1231. 

  Text Phone 0161 618 8524 

  email: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk

General Late Collection

• The Ladybirds management reserve the right to charge parents an on the spot penalty notice of £10 for late collection for the first 15 minutes and then for every further 5 minutes an additional £5.
• Parents will have 1 week to pay the penalty.  After 1 week of non-payment a reminder letter is issued.  After 1 more week a warning letter will be issued from the staff informing parents the case has now been referred to the Ladybirds Directors.  The Ladybirds Directors reserve the right to withdraw the child’s place following a non-payment of a penalty.

Our Policies are under review and will be updated on our website in due course.  These changes are in accordance with the revised EYFS - Dated June 2021