Missing Child Policy

In the event of a child becoming lost whilst in the care of the setting, we will immediately put into place the procedures detailed below. These ensure that a systematic approach is taken to find the child and consideration is given to the levels of risk to the child.  

Day Nursery Setting Procedure  

A thorough search of the premises will be made by the management team including every room in the building, the playgrounds, and the perimeter of the setting. The following questions are asked: 

• Where was the child last seen?  

• Which member of staff was with the child?  

• Which children were with the child?  

• How long has the child been missing?  

• All staff will be aware of the procedure when a child goes missing and supply information to support the search, e.g. a recent photograph and a detailed description of clothing 

• Gates and Doors are checked to ensure there has been no security breach, ensuring the child has been unable to escape the premises. 

Steps to be taken

1. Within your room congregate all the children into one location, headcount and complete a register to account for all other children. Other staff will search the room.  
2. The manager will talk to all present staff to gain a clear understanding of the situation.  
3. If the child is still not found once a complete search of the premises and parameters the manager will contact the police on 999 and follow their guidance, the parents/carers will then be informed of the situation and the contact made with the police.   
4. The manager will meet and liaise with the above as necessary.  
5. The Directors will be informed immediately.  
6. Ofsted will be informed of the incident with 14 days by the Operations Director.  
7. Full records will be written up and the situation will be reviewed  

Outing procedure should a child become missing 

1. Take a head count of all children immediately to ensure that no other child is missing; check this against the children’s register.  
2. Check the outing photo which is part of the outing risk assessment to confirm what the child is wearing and what they look like 
3. If a child is lost the following questions are asked by the most Senior person on the outing:  

• Where was the child last seen?  

• Which member of staff was with the child?  

• Which children were with the child?  

• How long has the child been missing?  

 Follow these steps:

1. Ensure that the remaining children are adequately supervised. 
2. A member of staff searches the immediate vicinity. 
3. The outing provision is alerted 
4. If the child is still not found, the Manager will be informed  via the designated mobile phone and it will be decided as to who is contacting the police and parents and next steps taken.    
5. If able to the manager will make their way to the location and be a point of contact with the police and child’s parents/carers.  
6. The Directors will be informed immediately.  
7. After the Incident a full report will be written up 
8. Policies, procedures and risk assessments will be reviewed following the incident 
9. Ofsted will be informed of the incident with 14 days by the Operations Director.  

Club Setting Procedures 

On the Digital system there is a list of children attending each day of the week, children are collected from school and signed in on the digital system upon collection from school and then signed in once reached the club vicinity. When all the children are assembled to begin the session there is a verbal registration to confirm attendance. Children are encouraged to sign themselves in. They are also signed out from this register when they are collected which is witnessed by a member of staff.  

Every child should be accounted for by a member of staff at all times. The children must stay within the boundaries and ask to go to the toilet etc.  

If a child is lost the following questions are asked by the Club Manager:  

• Where was the child last seen?  

• Which member of staff was with the child?  

• Which children were with the child?  

• How long has the child been missing?  

Management would delegate a search of the setting while the remaining staff members remain with the other children keeping them contained in one location, calm and safe. All staff are to be informed of the situation and are to keep vigilant. The search areas should include – where the child has been; where the child likes to go and where the child could be.  

If after the premises and parameters have been searched and the child is still not found, then the police are informed on 999 and guidance followed. Then the parents are informed of the incident and the reporting to police 

If such an incident occurs a report will be written by the Manager and kept on record, this report needs escalating to a Director. The report should indicate the circumstances around the event, who dealt with what, action taken, the outcome and any recommendations for the future. Serious incidents reported to OFSTED by the Ofsted Nominated Individual.  

MISSING CHILD INVESTIGATION FORM

Last reviewed July 2026

Missing Child Policy Confirmation

Please complete the Missing Child Policy Confirmation form below to confirm you have read and understood the policy and process taken in the case of a missing child.