Lost Child Policy

[SueHowlett]

Has anyone got a copy of a lost child policy I could look at. We have to have one as a result of our Ofsted Inspection. I don't know where to start.

Can anyone help.

Sue H.

[Guest]

Hi Sue

We don't have a specific policy as it forms part of our health and safety policy - however I've listed the procedures below:

 

All staff will be informed that a child is unaccounted for.

All staff will be involved in looking for the child, but are to ensure the adequate supervision of the other children.

Parents/carers will be informed.

Police will be notified.

There is to be no contact made with the media.

Early Years Support Officer will be notified.

A detailed investigation will follow, whereby the whereabouts of all staff will be ascertained and reports written by all staff.

The security of the building is paramount.

All staff to ensure the front door is secure at all times.

Staff to be aware of whereabouts of children at all times.

 

Below is a copy of the form which is completed if a child is lost

Procedure when parents fail to collect a child or when a child goes missing.

 

The following child has The following child has

not been collected has gone missing

 

Name of child:………………………………………………………………………………………………

 

Address of child:……………………………………………………………………………………………

 

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

 

Telephone:……………………………………………………………………………………………………..

 

Name of parent/carer:………………………………………………………………………………….

 

For child not collected

Date and time child should have been collected:

 

 

Name of person who should have collected child:

 

 

This person is the parent carer emergency contact

 

For child gone missing

Date, time and location of disappearance:

 

 

Who was responsible for caring for the child at the time s/he disappeared:

 

What was the child wearing?

 

 

Any distinguishing features?

 

 

Circumstances surrounding disappearance:

 

 

Duty social worker informed for child not collected (date/time)

 

 

Parents contacted Yes No

 

What happens next

 

 

Signature managers/deputy: Date:

[Guest]

Hi Sue, Welcome on board!

I'm sure you will get lots of variations on a lost child policy but here's ours for what its worth - its a procedure for the Operational Plan rather than a policy! Good luck and keep posting.......

 

INSTRUCTIONS FOR STAFF IN THE EVENT OF LOSS OF A CHILD

 

This procedure will take effect if a child is identified as missing during a Nursery Session:

 

1. Session Supervisor will check the Register for the day to ensure that the child was indeed marked present at the start of the session.

 

2. The Register will also be checked to ensure that the child was not collect early (ticks to indicate present will have been struck through and the time of departure will have been noted)

 

3. The Visitors Log should also be checked to see if the parent/carer of the child has visited to collect the child early.

 

4. A member of staff will be deployed to systematically check the premises thoroughly as follows:

 

· Nursery Rooms

· toilet area (including Disabled facilities)

· inside large equipment, under tables, floor cushions etc, behind large equipment etc.

· in the kitchen area

· Each of the Side Rooms

· Nursery Cloakroom

· Table Store, the Chair Store & Nursery Storage Area.

· The remainder of the premises, including Office, Store Rooms, Toilets, Kitchen, Foyer and ....

· Outside play area and....Grounds

 

The staff member must immediately report back to the Supervisor once the check has been completed.

 

5. The Supervisor will gather the children into one area and tactfully ask them if they have seen the child (avoiding the use of the word ‘missing’ and mindful of the need to remain calm).

 

6. Having fully checked the premises the Supervisor will then phone the Police via ‘999’ before telephoning the parent/carer to advise them of the situation.

 

· Remain as calm as possible, mindful not to unsettle the children

· Continue to check the premises once Police have been called

· Be mindful of maintaining staff ratios

[SueHowlett]

Thanks the info is very useful

Sue H

[mundia]

Hi Sue, just wanted to welome you in, and thank you for your first post

[Steve]

Hi Sue -

Welcome to the forum!

Belatedly, just thought you'd like to know there's a missing child policy example contained in this page.

 

Regards, Steve.

[Sue R]

Hi Sue!

 

Another belated welcome!!

 

Sue (A lot of us about, aren't there? )

[Alison]

Hi Sue

 

OFSTED said the same to us last year "where is your lost child policy?"

 

they seemed to be more interested in the "what if" policies than our security measure to prevent children being lost in the first place

 

when ofsted asked us to write a lost child policy they also asked us to write a late or non collected child policy.

 

I hope you manage to write the policy ok

[hali]

Hi

 

We had to write a non collection policy and lost child policy on site and off if we took children out for our accrediation.

[Guest]

Hi ! Steve, I dont see to be able to open the link with the lost child policy on.......it asks me to log on but I already am.

[Guest]

Just got it!! Thank you