Non-collection of Children Policy

Aim

At Chingford House Nursery, we understand how distressing it might be if an authorised adult fails to collect a child; so we ensure that children receive a high standard of care and attention to minimise any distress.

Parents/carers are informed of our procedures when they first start nursery, so that, if they are unavoidably delayed, they can be reassured that their children will be properly cared for.

 

Statement of intent

In the event that a child is not collected by an authorised adult at the end of a session/day, safeguarding protocols insist that two members of staff remain with the child to mitigate the risk of any allegations being made; additionally, in the event that an accident occurs with either the child or member of staff, it is important that there are at least two members of staff that can manage the situation

 

Procedures

Parents are asked to provide specific information on our registration form, including information such as: home address, contact numbers, people authorised to collect children and information on people authorised to collect the child in an emergency

 

When parents know they will not be at home or at their usual place of work, they must inform either their Key Person, Room Leader or the Manager of how they can be contacted.

 

When parents or authorised persons are unable to collect a child and they know this in advance, the parent must sign a ‘permission to collect my child’ slip detailing the name of the person coming and the relationship between the child and person, e.g., aunt, family friend. If a parent does not know in advance that they can’t collect their child, they can call or text the nursery and inform the Manager who will be collecting the child; if the person is unknown to us, we will ask for ID and a password to ensure the child’s safety.

 

If a child is not collected at the end of the session/day we apply the following procedures:

 

• The Manager will check and confirm information with the staff in the child’s room of any changes to the normal collection routine

• The parents/carers will be contacted at home, work and any other numbers that we have on file

• All reasonable attempts will be made to contact the parents/carers, but if this is unsuccessful, alternative authorised adults will be contacted (parents will be informed via voicemail that we are taking this action)

• The child will stay at the nursery with the Key Person/familiar adult and the Manager/Deputy manager until the child has been collected

• The child will not leave the premises with anyone other than those named on the registration form or someone that we have been notified is authorised to collect the child

• Once the parent/carer/authorised adult has arrived, they will be asked to sign and confirm the time of late collection.

• Late collection of a child is charged at £1 for every minute of lateness

 

If we are unable to contact a parent/carer/authorised adult/emergency contact and no-one has collected the child by 7p.m., Child Protection procedures will be initiated:

• We will contact Waltham Forest Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH team), 221 Hoe Street, Walthamstow, E17 9PH.  Tel no: 020 8496 2310 Out of hours: 020 8496 3000 or the Mash Team in a different Borough if the child does not live in Waltham Forest and implement any advice or procedures as directed by them

 

The child may become more upset if the Child Protection Team decides that they will take the child into their custody until their parent/guardian has been located. We will do everything we can to support the child until they leave our care.

 

We will inform Ofsted as soon as practicably possible and within 14 days at the latest and will include a full written report of the incident. We will continue to liaise with Ofsted and of course speak with the child’s parents as soon as we can. We will also inform the Early Years Safeguarding Team, via email. It is our intention to welcome the child and family back as soon as possible so that the child can return to a familiar and secure routine.

 

At Chingford House Nursery we are keen to support children and families and will offer as much help and guidance as possible as well as signposting families to services that may also offer support, i.e. Early Help.

 

Policy revised by: Yolande Farrell Manager

Signed off by: Zarkar Akhtar Owner

Date: November 2023 Date of next review: November 2025