Expected child not arriving

Reconcile the register promptly at every handover. If a child expected from school is absent, check immediately with the school, collecting staff and parent. Establish who last had responsibility and where the child was last seen. Do not mark a child absent and move on while their whereabouts are unknown. For a parent drop-off no-show, contact the parent promptly and assess any safeguarding context. Escalate uncertainty without waiting for an arbitrary attendance deadline.

Child missing while in our care

Alert the manager immediately, keep the remaining children safely supervised and check the register and last confirmed location. Allocate staff to immediate safe checks of toilets, exits and the nearby area while another worker maintains contact and supervision. Notify venue or transport staff where relevant. Never send children to search or leave the rest of the group unprotected.

Contact police promptly if the child cannot be accounted for immediately; call 999 where there is immediate danger, vulnerability or an urgent risk. Do not wait a fixed period before seeking help. Tell police the child’s description, clothing, age, medical or support needs, last location and time, and relevant risks. Inform parents promptly unless police or safeguarding advice says otherwise. The lead considers social-care, regulator and insurer notifications and preserves records and relevant CCTV.

When found, check the child’s wellbeing, obtain medical help if needed, reassure without blame and notify those involved. Record the chronology, action, outcome and the child’s account sensitively. The manager reviews whether the activity can safely continue and implements corrective action before repeating it.

Child not collected

At closing, contact the parent and then authorised emergency collectors. Our staffing standard is that two suitable adults remain with the child in a safe authorised location. Record attempts and maintain appropriate care. No child is left alone, taken to a staff member’s home or placed in an unauthorised vehicle.

If we cannot arrange safe collection promptly, or have concerns about the child’s welfare, seek children’s social care or Emergency Duty Team advice; call police when risk requires it. Do not wait for a fixed late-fee period where a child may be at risk. If a building must close, agree a safe alternative with relevant authorities and inform the parent; do not improvise an unapproved journey.

Record the eventual handover and any agreed follow-up. Late fees are addressed separately under policy 7. Review repeated non-collection with the family and safeguarding lead.