The care of your child is paramount and I will always try to ensure that they remain with me and are safe.
However, sometimes children can become lost in busy places and therefore as a responsible childminder I have written a procedure that will be followed in the unlikely event of this happening.
On discovering a child is missing:
I will immediately raise the alarm to all around me that I have lost a child and enlist the help of everyone to look for them.
If it is a secure area such as a shopping centre, I will quickly alert the security staff so they can seal off exits and monitor the situation on an CCTV.
I will provide everyone involved in the search with a description of the child.
I will reassure the other children with me, as they may be distressed.
I will alert the police and provide a full description.
I will alert the parents of the situation.
I will alert the CIW.
I take precautions to avoid situations like this happening by implementing the following measures:
Ensuring children hold my hand or the pushchair whilst we are out.
Avoid going to places that I deem unsuitable for our party.
I teach the children about the dangers of wandering off and of talking to strangers and also tell them what to do if they become lost according to their age and stage of development, e.g. stay where they are, meet up at a certain place, use their mobile phone to summon help.