Each booking states the arrival point, collection point, times, duty telephone number and whether school collection is included. Parents remain responsible until an authorised club worker has completed the agreed handover; the club does not disclaim responsibility for its own failure to carry out a booked collection.

Staff check the register and record each child’s actual arrival and departure time. A child is never marked present simply because a place is booked. Families must not leave a child at an unattended venue, in a car park or at the door without handover. We do not admit walk-in children without the necessary booking, capacity and safe-care information.

For school collection, staff carry the agreed list and identify themselves to the school. The school and club confirm the named child’s transfer. If an expected child is missing, staff contact the school and parent immediately and follow policy 10; they do not assume another adult has collected the child. Parents notify the club directly of an absence, early collection or changed arrangement as soon as possible.

We release children only to authorised collectors using the agreed identity and collection-password checks. The password is not a substitute for checking authorisation. Any change is verified through an existing parent contact, not solely a message from an unfamiliar number. Staff record the collector and time. Relevant court orders and restrictions are recorded securely and explained to the staff who need them.

Our launch collection rule is collection by an authorised adult aged 18 or over. Independent departure or collection by an under-18 sibling is not available unless the director has separately approved a written, risk-assessed arrangement. Parent permission alone does not require us to agree an unsafe arrangement.

If a collector appears unable to keep a child safe, or an unauthorised person insists on taking a child, staff seek manager or safeguarding support, contact an alternative authorised adult and involve police or social care where necessary. Staff avoid confrontation that increases danger and record the incident. They never use a child’s release as leverage in a fee dispute.

On an outing we use the confirmed meeting point and maintain supervision until handover. If transport delays collection, staff keep parents informed through the duty contact route. Late or uncollected children are managed under policy 10.