Uncollected Child Policy

In the event a child is not collected by an authorised adult at the end of a session, Wakitu out-of-School and holiday clubs will put into practice agreed procedures.  These ensure that the child is cared for safely by two experienced and qualified practitioners who are known to the child. We will ensure that the child receives a high standard of care to cause as little distress as possible. 

Before children are admitted to our out-of-school clubs, Parents/carers are required to fill in an admission to Wakitu form. We will need all relevant and up to date information on each child attending. We will require contact details for the adults with parental responsibility and in the event, we cannot contact the child’s parents/carers we will require additional contact details of three other responsible adults. 

On occasions when parents/carers are aware that they will not be at home or in their usual place of work, they inform us where they can be contacted 

On occasions when parents/carers or the persons normally authorised to collect the child are not able to collect the child, they provide us with details to verify the identity of the person who is to collect the child 

Parents/carers are informed that if they are not able to collect the child as planned, they must inform us so that we can begin back-up arrangements.  We provide parents with our telephone number. 

In the event a child is uncollected at the end of a session procedure: 

  • Check to see if any changes to the child’s collection have been recorded? 

  • Inform setting manager

  • Call parents/carers first on all numbers available (home, work, mobile phone) 

  • If parents/carers are uncontactable begin contacting other responsible adults from child’s registration form 

 

If the child is now collected by one of the children’s nominated responsible adults albeit later than expected. The child’s main parent/carer will still need to be contact by the manager and a reasonable explanation given. See safeguarding policy if there are further concerns. 

 

If all contacts for the child are unsuccessful: If all contacts provided for the child are unsuccessful and reasonable attempts to parents/carers have been made: 

  • The child must not leave the premises with any other adult other than the ones nominated on the registration form 

 

If no one collects the child after one hour, we apply the following procedures for uncollected children 

  • We contact our Local Authority Children’s Social Care Team, (01226) 772423 (weekdays before 5pm) or the emergency duty team on (01226) 787789 (after 5pm weekdays and weekends). 

  • Under no circumstances must the staff go looking for the child’s parents/carers 

  • Staff must never take the child home with them 

  • A follow up report will be made about the events so staff must be vigilant on details of the event.