The care of your child is paramount. I have plans and risk assessments in place to ensure that they remain with me and are safe.  However, on rare occasions children can become lost in busy places and as a responsible childminder I have written a procedure that will be followed in the unlikely event of this happening.

• 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 any 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 then alert the police and provide a full description.
• I will then alert the parents of the situation.
• I will inform Ofsted.

I take precautions to avoid situations like this happening by implementing the following measures:

• Ensuring the children are wearing reins (if requested and supplied by parents), or a wrist strap, or holding my hand or the pushchair whilst we are out walking.
• Where possible I avoid going to places that are overcrowded.
• I teach the children about the dangers of wandering off, and of talking to strangers.
• I regularly conduct head counts whilst away from home.
• I will not attend groups that negate my policies and procedures, or that I deem as unsafe, or do not allow me to monitor the children’s activities at all times.