Missing Child Policy

MISSING CHILD POLICY AND PROCEDURES

This policy applies to all pupils at Our Lady of Sion School including Early Years (EYFS0, Junior School, Senior School and Sixth Form.
 
All children are in the care of Our Lady of Sion School during the school day.

EYFS and Junior School children are handed over into the care of the parent/carer. This is supervised by a member of Junior School Staff.
 
Senior School pupils are allowed to leave independently at the end of the school day. However, Sixth Form and Year 11 pupils are allowed out at certain times during the school day with parental permission. They must sign in and out in the Foyer of the Senior School.

The Staff will take every precaution necessary to ensure the safety of the children whilst in school.
 
EARLY YEARS (EYFS)
The staff will ensure that any access/exit doors are locked and cannot be unlocked by children; that safety gates are in place where appropriate;

JUNIOR AND SENIOR SCHOOL
Staff will ensure that the children are not able to climb out of open windows; that any outside activity area is secure and supervised and that if walking out in the environment, the staffing levels are appropriate for the year group (see trips policy).

PROCEDURE
In the unlikely event of a child being lost, the following procedure will be followed:
• The teacher responsible for the class will check the class register against the attendance register for that day to confirm that a child is missing. The teacher in charge must then send a message to the Deputy Heads or in their absence a member of the management team.
• Staff will ensure that the child is nowhere else in the building or in the outside area, including the toilet area.
• A member of staff will search beyond the building in the road etc and if necessary check the CCTV.
• The children will be asked if they have seen the particular child.
• If a child is missing the parents will be contacted by the Headmaster or Deputy Heads.
• The police will be alerted following all procedures being followed and the certainty that the child is not on the premises and that the child has not been taken by the parent with no record being made.

It is important not to alarm the other children. It is also important to ensure that the attendance register is completed twice daily, that any telephone messages regarding absent children are noted and that any parent collecting a child early, in the case of the Junior School, informs a member of staff before a child leaves the premises.

©Our Lady of Sion School 2009
The school reserves the right to amend this policy

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