Arrival, Collection & Uncollected Child Policy

1. Safe Arrival & Reception Handover

The start of each session is managed with attentive care to ensure seamless, documented transitions from parents to nursery staff:

Warm Greeting & Health Check: Staff personally greet each child and accompanying parent/guardian at reception, conducting a quick visual assessment of the child's wellbeing, energy level, and skin.
Arrival Logging: Exact arrival times are documented in the session attendance register by the key person.
Information Exchange: Parents share any urgent overnight notes (e.g., poor sleep, teething, light appetite) which are immediately logged on the child's daily care record.

2. Authorized Collectors & Strict ID Verification

Zero Unauthorized Release Rule Under no circumstances will a child be released to an older sibling under 18, a friend, a taxi driver, or any adult not explicitly registered on the Authorised Collectors & Collection Password Form (Annex A1).

Mandatory Verification Steps:

Pre-Registered List: Parents provide names, relationships, phone numbers, and copies of Emirates ID for all authorized collectors upon admission.
Photo ID Check: Any unfamiliar collector or secondary authorized person must present their physical original Emirates ID to reception staff prior to entering the collection zone.
Unique Collection Password: A secret family password specified on Annex A1 must be quoted correctly by the collecting adult.
Parent Advance Notice: If someone other than the regular collector is picking up the child, the primary parent must notify the Principal or Reception in advance via phone or official WhatsApp.

3. Uncollected Child Procedure & Escalation

If a child is not collected at the scheduled dismissal time (11:30 AM, 03:00 PM, or 07:00 PM), staff initiate the uncollected child safeguarding sequence:

1

Care, Comfort & Supervision (0 – 15 Minutes)

The child remains in the calm reception or clinic area under the direct supervision of two qualified staff members. The child is reassured, engaged in quiet play, and provided fresh water or a light snack.

2

Immediate Contact Attempts (15 – 30 Minutes)

Staff phone the primary parents/carers. If unanswered after 3 attempts, staff call all secondary emergency contact numbers listed on file in order of priority.

3

Escalation to Principal & Authorities (45 – 60 Minutes)

If no authorized contact can be reached within 45–60 minutes, the Principal and DSL take charge of the case. In accordance with SPEA and UAE child welfare regulations, the matter is reported to the Sharjah Child Helpline (800700) or Sharjah Police (999) for safe guidance and intervention.

4. Missing or Lost Child Emergency Protocol

In the unlikely event that a child is unaccounted for during transitions or activities:

Immediate Alert: The discovering staff member shouts the 'Missing Child' alert. The Principal secures all external doors and gates immediately.
Systematic Search: Designated staff execute an immediate search of all classrooms, toilets, storerooms, clinic, and perimeter areas while other staff maintain active headcount and supervision of remaining children.
Police Dispatch: If the child is not located within 5 minutes of search, Sharjah Police (999) and Civil Authorities are contacted immediately, followed by direct notification to parents.
Full Incident Debrief: The incident is logged on the Lost / Missing Child Incident Log (Annex P4) and reviewed with SPEA inspectors.

Annex A1: Authorised Collectors Form Annex P4: Missing Child Incident Log Annex S5: Visitor Log