Wheelers Lane Primary School
Protocol for the Collection of Children from School
Rationale
The need for the school to devise a child drop off/collection policy is to:
Clearly outline the drop off/collection procedures to the school community.
To devise an easy to follow signing in and out system within the school.
To ensure that each child is safe when on the school grounds.
General Collection Procedure
Parents will promptly collect children at the end of the school day, which is 3:15pm for EYFS and KS1, 3:20pm for KS2. Children will only be permitted to leave the premises with an authorised adult or a sibling who is at least 16 years old.
Staff members will supervise classroom doors and the playground until all children have been collected. Children will be allowed to walk home on their own, only if a ‘permission to walk home form’ has been completed on Parentmail. This is only for children in Year 5 or Year 6.
Staff members will not release a child if it is felt that the parents are not in a fit state to ensure the child’s safety or if the child shows signs of distress or anxiety. In these cases, the school’s Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy will be followed and children’s social care, and the police if appropriate, will be contacted.
We will not allow older brothers or sisters in school to collect younger siblings unless the child being collected is in KS2 and school has received written permission (Appendix 1) from the parent and it has been discussed with a Member of the DSL (designated safeguarding Leader) team.
Permission will not be given for Older siblings to Collect children in Foundation stage or Key stage 1.
After-School Clubs Collection Procedure
Finish times and pick up locations can be found on Parentmail when a club is offered and should be noted by parents. Where an after-school club is provided by an external organisation, the organisation will implement an appropriate process for the collection of children, ensuring that they effectively identify and respond to safeguarding concerns. Children who have not been collected following an after-school club will be taken to the School Office and parents will be contacted.
Late Collection Procedure
Parents will notify the school at the first possible opportunity if they believe they will be late to collect their child. Parents should call the office on 0121 464 2551 before 3pm.
The school will hold at least two emergency contacts for each child. If contact cannot be made using contact details provided, the Non-Collection Procedure (below) will be followed.
Non-Collection Procedure
The school will continue to try and contact the parents and emergency contacts in the event of a non-collection. A record of the action taken will be kept and logged on CPOMs and passed on to SLT following any non-collection incident. Children will be supervised at all times.
If no contact can be made and no one arrives to collect the child, the MASH safeguarding team will be contacted on 0121 303 1888 for further advice. A member of staff will stay with the child until children’s social care arrives.
Recurrence of Late Collection
Late collections are monitored by the school and a record kept on CPOMs of incidents where parents are late with no reasonable explanation. Concerns regarding a child’s safety and welfare associated with late collection will be dealt with in accordance with the school’s Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy.
Parents will be made aware of the arrangements that may be put in place if they continue to collect their child late, including the school contacting the Birmingham Safeguarding team for advice.
Collecting a Child on Someone’s Behalf
The school will never release a child into the care of another adult who is not a family member or named emergency contact without parental consent. Parents must notify the school in advance of any change in arrangements. In an emergency, verbal consent (including a full description of the responsible person) may be given. Under no circumstances will a child be allowed to be collected by someone if the child shows signs of distress or anxiety.
Staff members who are unsure of an adult’s identity will ask to see identification. If there is uncertainty about a person’s identity, the following procedure will be followed:
The child’s parents will be contacted for further advice
A member of the SLT will be made aware of the situation
If the child’s parents are not contactable, the standard procedure for uncollected children will be followed