Ethos and prevention

The safety of every child is our absolute priority, and we implement robust systems to prevent a child from going missing. In the unlikely event that a child cannot be located, we act as the lead person for the incident and follow strict protocols.

Our preventative measures include:

• Daily identification photos: We take a photo of each child every morning or before an outing to record their exact appearance, clothing, and hairstyle. These are stored on a password-protected phone and deleted daily.
• Physical safety measures: On outings, younger children hold our hands or the buggy. Safety reins or harnesses are only used as a last resort and are always agreed upon with parents or carers in advance.
• Identification wristbands: All children wear a wristband on outings containing our contact details. For safeguarding reasons, no child names are listed on the bands.
• Learning boundaries: Through daily play and conversation, we help children understand the boundaries of our home and garden, as well as the importance of staying close on outings.
• Safety education: We use stories and activities aligned with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) to teach children about staying together and what to do if they cannot see us.
• Securing the premises: We ensure all exits are locked and keys are kept in a designated, safe place. Garden gates are secured before children enter outdoor areas.
• Risk assessments: We maintain up-to-date risk assessments for our indoor and outdoor environments, alongside specific assessments for every outing.

Immediate action: Missing child at home

If a child cannot be located within the setting, we immediately secure the premises and conduct a rapid, systematic search.

• Secure the area: We immediately check that all doors and gates are locked so no other child can leave.
• Supervision: We gather the remaining children in a safe, central area with a calm activity during the search.
• Inside search: We swiftly check all "hidden" spots, including under beds, behind curtains, and inside cupboards.
• Outside search: We search the garden, including areas behind sheds, hedges, and trees.
• Neighbour assistance: While remaining with the other children, we may call a neighbour to check the immediate external boundaries of the property.
• The 5-minute rule: If the child is not found within five minutes of the initial search, we will call 999 immediately.

Immediate action: Missing child while off-site

If a child goes missing during an outing, we initiate an immediate localised search while ensuring the safety and supervision of the other children.

• Identification: We use the daily identification photo on our phone to show venue staff or the police exactly what the child is wearing.
• Keep children together: We gather the remaining children and keep them close; we will not leave them to search further afield.
• Localised search: While remaining with the children, we visually scan the immediate area and check the child's last known location.
• Alerting others: We inform venue staff or ask a member of the public to help look while we stay with the remaining children.
• The 5-minute rule: If the child is not found within five minutes, we will call 999 and then the child's parents.

Contacting external agencies and parents

Once the police are notified, we immediately inform the parents and relevant regulatory bodies to ensure a coordinated response.

• Police assistance: We provide the police with the child’s name, age, physical description, and the digital photograph.
• Parental contact: We use the child's emergency contact card to call parents immediately after the 999 call.
• Other notifications: We notify Northumberland children's services (Onecall), Ofsted, and our insurance provider as soon as is reasonably possible.

Post-incident and review

Once a child is safely located, we focus on providing emotional support to everyone involved while conducting a thorough investigation to prevent future recurrence.

• Supporting the children: We provide reassurance and comfort to all children involved and monitor them for signs of distress.
• Reviewing the incident: We conduct a full post-incident review to identify how the incident occurred and update our risk assessments and procedures accordingly.
• Confidentiality: We do not speak to the press regarding any incident. If legal advice is required, we contact our professional association or insurance legal helpline.