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1.4.2 Children not Collected from School

SCOPE OF THIS CHAPTER

This Chapter relates to the protocol between Lewisham schools and Children’s Social Care (CSC) about children not collected from school.


Contents

  1. Guidance for Lewisham School Staff
  2. Regular Reviews and Updates
  3. Parents who Persistently Fail to Collect their Children on Time
  4. Child Subject to a Child Protection Plan


1. Guidance for Lewisham School Staff

In the event of a child remaining uncollected at the end of the school day, and school staff not having been advised of lateness by the parent/carer, then the following protocol will come into action: 

  • Two members of staff will remain at the school and whilst one looks after the child the second will locate the parent/carer.
  • 15 minutes after the end of the school day the parent/carer will be telephoned at work/mobile/home in order to try to locate them.
  • If this is unsuccessful then the next of kin and/or other emergency numbers will be contacted.
  • If this is still unsuccessful, after 15 minutes then the calls will be repeated.
  • If no contact has  been made after another hour then Children’s Social Care should be contacted to discuss the next step or best option.
  • At this point (1 ½ hours after the end of school) Children’s Social Care become responsible for the child. If the child remains at the school by agreement (e.g. in an after school provision) or the school remains involved in contacting parents/ neighbours etc, this will be by agreement only and should not be an expectation.
  • 1 ½ hours after the end of school it will be Children’s Social Care responsibility to identify where the child should be taken. How the child is brought to the venue should be agreed between CSC and the school staff.


2. Regular Reviews and Updates

In order for this protocol to be successful it is essential that schools keep, regularly  review and update  contact and emergency details for all their pupils. This information must be passed to CSC upon the making of a referral under this protocol.


3. Parents who Persistently Fail to Collect their Children on Time

Parents who persistently fail to collect their children on time on a regular basis should be subject to a CAF and consideration should be given to referring the child to CSC. This should be considered even if the child does not meet the timings in this protocol


4. Child Subject to a Child Protection Plan

If a child is subject to a Child Protection Plan then the school should notify the child’s allocated worker after 15 minutes. They should speak to the duty worker or team manager in FSI if the social worker is not available.

End