- Purpose
This policy sets out the steps to take if a child goes missing from our care. We comply with the EYFS 2023 (para 3.73 – Safeguarding and Welfare Requirements: Information for parents and carers), Keeping Children Safe in Education 2025, and Ofsted reporting requirements.
- Roles & Responsibilities
– Operations Director – ensures staff training, risk assessments, and reviews of procedures are carried out.
– Office Team – maintain emergency contact information, forms, and liaise with parents as needed.
– Holiday Club Manager – leads the immediate response, contacts emergency services, and liaises with police/parents.
– All Staff – remain vigilant, carry out head counts, and respond quickly to any missing child incident.
- Preventative Measures
– Staff carry out regular head counts during sessions.
– Extra care is taken when moving children between locations.
– Children are reminded of boundaries and supervision rules.
- Procedure if a Child Goes Missing
1. All staff are alerted immediately
2. A thorough search of the premises and surrounding area is conducted.
3. If the child is not found within 10 minutes, the police are informed.
4. The Holiday Club Manager then contacts the child’s parents or carers.
5. Staff continue to search while waiting for the police and parents to arrive.
6. The Club routine continues as normally as possible for the remaining children.
7. The Manager liaises with the police and parents/carers.
8. The incident is recorded in the Incident Log and Ofsted is notified within 14 days using the serious incident reporting process.
5. Review of Incident
– A review is conducted after any missing child incident.
– Related policies and procedures (e.g., Arrivals and Departures, Safeguarding) are checked and updated.
– Any lessons learned are implemented immediately.
- Related Policies
– Safeguarding Children Policy
– Arrivals and Departures Policy
– Risk Assessment Policy
- Review
This policy will be reviewed annually, or sooner if required by legislation or following an incident.
Appendix Reference
Contact details for local authority safeguarding teams, children’s social care, and police in all areas where we operate are listed in the Emergency Contact Directory. This is updated annually by the Office Team and provided to all Club sites.