Late collections policy

 At Kids Go Wild Forest School, the safety and wellbeing of every child is our priority. Children must be collected promptly at the agreed session finish time. Late collection can cause distress for children and has significant implications for staff ratios, operational costs, and safeguarding responsibilities.
 

This policy sets out how late collection is managed in line with the EYFS Statutory Framework 2025 and Local Authority safeguarding guidance.
 

Aims

• To ensure all children remain safe, cared for, and supervised until collected.
   

• To safeguard children by ensuring at least two staff members remain on site at all times (one of whom will be early years qualified if the child is within the EYFS age group).
   

• To support parents by maintaining clear communication and procedures.
   

• To apply fair and consistent late collection charges to cover staffing and operational costs.
   

Procedures

Grace Period

• Parents/carers are allowed a 5-minute grace period after the session ends.
   

• If lateness becomes frequent, even within this grace period, late fees may be applied at the Manager’s discretion.
   

5–10 Minutes Late

• Late fee: £10 per child.
   

• Parent/carer contacted by phone if not already in communication.
   

• Child supervised and reassured by key person (where possible) and senior staff.
   

10–20 Minutes Late

• Late fee: £20 per child.
   

• If parent/carer cannot be reached, the first emergency contact will be called.
   

20–30 Minutes Late

• Late fee: £30 per child.
   

• Continued attempts made to contact parent/carer and emergency contacts.
   

After 30 Minutes

• If no contact is made with parents/carers or emergency contacts, the Local Authority Safeguarding Duty Team will be contacted.
   

• Ofsted will be informed of any incident where a child is left uncollected for over 30 minutes without contact.
   

• Late fees continue to accrue according to the delay.
   

Safeguarding & Escalation

• Persistent or unreasonable lateness is recorded as a safeguarding concern.
   

• The setting may escalate concerns to the Local Authority earlier than the above timescales if immediate risks are identified.
   

• Where lateness is repeated or unresolved, the child’s place may be withdrawn.
   

Why We Charge Late Fees

• To cover additional staffing costs when staff remain beyond contracted hours.
   

• To cover site and operational costs when the setting remains open beyond scheduled times.
   

• To deter repeated late collection, which places strain on staff and disrupts routines.
   

Parental Responsibilities

• Parents must ensure contact numbers are current, switched on, and reachable during all session times.
   

• Parents should plan for potential delays (traffic, weather, transport issues).
   

• Late fees must be paid within 24 hours of collection.
   

Compliance

This policy meets the requirements of:

• EYFS Statutory Framework (September 2025) – Sections 3.65–3.73 (Safeguarding and Welfare Requirements).
   

• Local Safeguarding Partnership guidance.
   

• Ofsted expectations on child welfare and supervision.
   

Summary
Children must be collected promptly at the end of each session. Where delays occur, Kids Go Wild Forest School ensures children remain safe, supervised, and reassured while also maintaining clear communication with parents and applying fair late fees. Persistent lateness is a safeguarding issue and may lead to escalation or withdrawal of the child’s place.