Uncollected Child Policy
The Man In The Moon endeavours to ensure that all children are collected by a parent/carer at the end of each session.
If a child is not collected, and the parent or carer has not notified us that they will be delayed, we will follow the procedure set out below:
Up to 15 minutes late:
-
When the parent/carer arrives, they will be reminded that they must call us to notify us if they are delayed.
-
The parent/carer will be informed that penalty fees will have to be charged (unless the delay was genuinely unavoidable).
Over 15 minutes late:
-
If a parent/carer is more than 15 minutes late in collecting their child, we will try to contact them using the contact details on file.
-
If there is no response from the parent/carer, messages will be left requesting that they contact us immediately. We will then try to contact the emergency contacts listed on the child's registration form.
-
While waiting to be collected, the child will be supervised by a crew member.
-
When the parent/carer arrives, they will be reminded that they must call to notify us if they are delayed, and those penalty fees will have to be charged (except in exceptional circumstances).
Over 30 minutes late:
-
If we have been unable to contact the child's parents/carers after 30 minutes, we will contact the local MASH team for advice.
-
The child will remain in our care, on our premises if possible, until collected by the parent/carer, or until placed in the care of the MASH team.
-
If it is not possible for the child to remain at the premises, a note will be left on the door informing the child's parent/carer where the child has been taken (e.g. to the home of a crew member or into the care of a safeguarding agency) and leaving a contact number. A further message will be left on the parent/carer's telephone explaining events.
Managing persistent lateness
We will record incidents of late collection and will discuss them with the child's parents/carers. Parents/carers will be reminded that if they persistently collect their child late, they may lose their place.
Reviewed: 10 May 2022
Review Period: 24 months