Uncollected Child Policy

Should a child not be collected at their appointed time a member of the staff will endeavour to contact the parent/carer using the contact information on file.

Should contact be made and information obtained that ensures the child will be collected, then arrangements will be made by the person in charge of Playaway Day Nursery or her deputy to ensure that suitably qualified members of staff remain on the premises until the person collecting the child arrives. Such over hours are chargeable as set out on the childcare agreement. 

In the very unlikely event that no contact is made with a parent/carer then, 30 minutes after the time the child should have been collected, the Officer in Charge will first attempt to contact any other person whose name appears on the emergency list.  Playaway Day Nursery reserves the right to make arrangements for two members of staff, at least one of whom is qualified, to care for the child until the situation is resolved. 

The Children Acts of various dates agree a prime objective that “the welfare of the child is paramount”. To fulfil this prime objective the nursery will provide care of the child for as long as is reasonably practicable.  Should the Officer in Charge believe that it is in the child’s best interests to be passed from their care to the care of Social Services, then under this procedure they reserve the right to do so.  Should this ever occur, then a written statement informing the parent/carer of the sequence of events shall be delivered to the child’s home at the first opportunity.