Uncollected Children Policy

Fixation Academy of Performing Arts (FAPA) endeavours to ensure that all children are collected by a  parent or carer at the end of each session.

FAPA is responsible for the children, young people and vulnerable adults who have completed registration and are taking part in FAPA Academy classes and Holiday Clubs. unless FAPA is sub-contracted by an internal company / organisation. For example, external hires, touring TIE projects to perform within the school. When FAPA is solely responsible we will provide staff members to be on site 15-30 minutes before and after each session and at least 15 minutes after the 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 or carer arrives they will be reminded that they must call Fixation Academy of Performing Arts to notify us if they are delayed. 
• The parent or 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 or carer is more than 15 minutes late in collecting their child, the manager will try to contact them using the contact details on file.
• If there is no response from the parent or carer, messages will be left requesting that they contact the FAPA immediately. The manager 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 member of staff.
• When the parent or carer arrives they will be reminded that they must call the FAPA to notify us if they are delayed, and that penalty fees will have to be charged (except in exceptional circumstances).

Over 30 minutes late

• If the manager has been unable to contact the child’s parents or carers after 30 minutes, the manager will contact the local Social Care team for advice.
• The child will remain in the care of the FAPA’s staff, on the FAPA’s premises if possible, until collected by the parent or carer, or until placed in the care of the Social Care team.
• If it is not possible for the child to remain at the FAPA’s premises, a note will be left on the door of the FAPA informing the child’s parent or carer where the child has been taken (eg to the home of a staff member or into the care of a safeguarding agency) and leaving a contact number. A further message will be left on the parent or carer’s telephone explaining events.

Managing persistent lateness

The manager will record incidents of late collection and will discuss them with the child’s parents or carers. Parents and carers will be reminded that if they persistently collect their child late they may lose their place at the FAPA.

Useful contacts

Duty Social Worker Contact Information:

Within The Borough of Barnet                

• Monday – Friday 9am-5pm – 020 8359 4405

• Out of office hours emergency – 020 8359 2000

https://www.barnet.gov.uk/directories/directme/multi-agency-safeguarding-hub-mash-team-childrens 

Within The Borough of Hertfordshire 

• Anytime – 0300 123 4043 

https://thegrid.org.uk/safeguarding-and-child-protection/child-protection/referrals-and-requests-for-support/mash-multi-agency-safeguarding-hub

FAPA Staff must:

• FAPA Staff must stay with the child at all times until parents/ carers arrive or Directors to be called and assist. 

• During this time staff are not allowed to be left alone with a single child. If Directors are available they will be present to help make contact.

• Staff are to make sure the child feels safe and does not worry.

• Staff are NOT allowed to give young people money to get home or give a lift in their personal car under any circumstances unless agreed with Directors and staff members who have business insurance on their car insurance policy. 

Additional 

• Incident reports will have to be completed and given to the Director. 

• Director or staff may have to have a meeting with parents/carers if lateness or repeated un-collection of the child occurs. 
• Curtains Up and Showdown Members will be charged for late pick up.

See Child Protection Policy which goes alongside the Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy.

• Written in accordance with the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage (2021): Safeguarding and Welfare Requirements: Information for parents and carers [3.74]