<aside> ℹ️

POLICY INFORMATION

Procedure on site

In the unlikely event of a child going missing within/from the nursery, the following procedure will be implemented immediately. Although the policy refers to the manager as the point of contact, due to the need for immediate action if the manager is not present at the time the most senior member of staff should carry out the role described for the manager.

• All staff present will be informed and an immediate thorough search of the nursery will be made followed by a search of the surrounding area, ensuring that all other children remain supervised.
• A staff member will notify the manager, whilst other staff continue Registers to be checked.
• The manager will carry out a second search of the area, if the child has still not been accounted for, the manager will contact the police.
• The manager will also contact the parents/carers of the missing child.
• During this period, staff will be continually searching for the missing child, whilst other staff maintain as near to normal routine as possible for the rest of the children in the nursery.
• The manager will meet the police and parents/carers.
• The manager will then await instructions from the police.
• Any incidents must be recorded in writing.

Report any incident to the group and operations managers who will notify Ofsted and the Local Authority

Procedure on outings

Regular head counts are carried out on children throughout the outing. In the unlikely event of a child going missing whilst on an outing the following procedure will be implemented immediately. All staff present will be informed and an immediate thorough search of the area will be made, ensuring that all other children remain supervised throughout. If appropriate, on-site security will be informed and a description of the child/children given. In the event of a child not being found, the designated person in charge will immediately inform the police.

The designated person in charge will then inform the nursery who will contact the child’s parents/carers giving details of what has happened.

Staff from the nursery will be sent to assist the safe return of the other children. At least one member of staff will remain at the scene whilst others return to the nursery with the children. This member of staff will continue searching for the child/children. The remaining member of staff will meet the police and parents/carers when they arrive at a designated point.

Staff Acknowledgement