Non-collection of Children Policy

Aim
We understand how distressing it might be if a parent or an authorised adult fails to collect a child, so we ensure that children receive a high standard of care and attention to minimise their fear and worry.
 

Parents/carers are informed of our procedures when they first start nursery, so that, if they are unavoidably delayed, they will 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, Chingford House Nursery has procedures in place to ensure that the child is supported. Safeguarding protocols ensure that two members of staff remain with the child to mitigate the risk of allegations being made; additionally, in the event that an accident occurs with either the child or member of staff, it is important there are  two members of staff on the premises.

 

Procedures

Parents are asked to provide specific information which is recorded on our registration form, including home address, people authorised to collect the child and 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 their Key Person, Room Leader or the Manager of how they can be contacted.

When parents or authorised persons are unable to come 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, for instance, aunt, family friend.

 

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

• The Manager will check with the staff of any changes to the normal collection routine

• The parents/carers will be contacted on home, work and any other numbers that we hold 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 have taken this action)

• The child will stay at the nursery with one member of staff and the Manager/Deputy 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, confirm the time of late collection.

• If we are unable to contact a parent/carer/authorised adult/emergency contact and no-one has collected the child by 7.00 p.m., our 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 decide 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 and will submit a full written report of the incident

 

It is our intention to welcome the family back as soon as possible so that the child can return to a familiar and secure routine.

At Chingford House Nursery we will offer as much help and guidance as possible as well as signposting families to services that may also help them.

 

Policy revised by: Yolande Farrell Manager

Signed off by: Zarkar Akhtar Owner

Date: Oct 2022 Date of next review: November 2023