The EYFS requires a procedure for a child who goes missing and one for a child who isn't collected. Both are short, and both need to be clear enough to follow in a panic, so write them as steps.
A missing child
- Search straight away, while keeping the other children safe.
- Call the police.
- Contact the parents.
- Tell Ofsted.
- Afterwards, look at what happened and what you'll change.
Most of the work is prevention: counting children often, especially on outings and at gates and doors, and knowing who is where in the house.
A child who isn't collected
- Contact the parents, then the emergency contacts on the family form.
- Keep caring for the child.
- If you can't reach anyone within a set time after closing, contact children's social care.
Pick the time and put it in writing. Mine is 60 minutes. Extra time is charged as set out in the fees section, which my late collection fees guide covers.
How it looks in your contract
From a GoChildmind contract
Late collection. If your child is not collected, I will contact you, then your emergency contacts. I will keep caring for your child. If I cannot reach anyone within 60 minutes of my closing time, I will contact children's social care.
A missing child. I keep children supervised at all times and check numbers regularly, especially on outings. If a child goes missing, I search immediately, call the police, then contact the parents, and notify Ofsted. I then review what happened to stop it happening again.
Put your own details in, freeRead the full sample contract
Questions people ask
When should a childminder call social care about late collection? At the time set in your policy, after trying the parents and emergency contacts. Many childminders use an hour after closing.
Can I release a child to someone not on the list? No. Only release a child to the adults the parents have named, and use a password for anyone you don't know.