Missing Child Policy and Procedure

Prevention when in the setting
External doors & gates will be locked. External doors to the garden may be unlocked if we are using the garden; at these times the gates will be locked and the areas are secured. We do a daily risk assessment in the settings and ensure these elements are checked.

Prevention when out of the setting
We will follow the Outings Procedure. Required ratios of staff to children will be followed at all times, and higher ratios will be considered if it is necessary. We will encourage all children to understand the need to be close to a member of staff at all times during outings. We will encourage children not to speak to strangers unless we are also with them. We teach the children whilst out on regular walks about what to do in the event of an emergency such as loosing their adult.

If a child is lost
For each particular outing, we will recommend to each child what they should do if they are lost, in general the approach will be:
  •  To shout for a member of staff and look around without moving too far away.
  •  To find someone that they know, or someone that works at the place we are visiting, and to ask for help.
  •  Not to get into anyone’s car.
  •  Not to walk off with anyone to a place where no-one else is.
If we discover that a child is lost we will:
  • Immediately make a search of the area.
  •  We will then alert staff/security staff if applicable.
  •  Keep calm around the other children and maintain ratio where possible.
If we are still unsuccessful at finding the child we will alert the police and as soon as practical, contact the parent at the earliest convenience. After the incident we will report the incident according to Ofsted guidelines and review our guidelines and policies and amend if necessary.
Policy Last Reviewed: January 2025
Policy Review Date: January 2026