Can a child escape from your school?

[manicinsomniac]

If you work at and/or have a child at a school - is it possible for a child to get out?

Deliberately being hugely vague on details here but recently a child of 11 ran away from our school and was returned by a member of the public. I thought the school would be in loads of trouble but that doesn't seem to be the case.

AIBU to think it ought to be impossible (or at least very difficult) - or would that mean restricting children's freedom too much?

I'm just scared to think of what could have happened.

DS's old head used to say that the door locks etc were designed to keep people out, not keep people in.

tricky. they'd have to climb the perimeter fence without being spotted (primary).

reception is 'locked down' so they couldn't just wanted wander out the front gate.

Yes from my secondary. Completely open site. More difficult from my DC's primary.

yes! No fences/gates - open doors and multiple buildings, with no fixed hours - kids coming and going all the time - no-one would bat and eyelid. Am not in the UK of course......

Yes, from every school I know.

DS1 was a runner....his school had very high fences, but he found a way by climbing a tree. They also have gates which can only be opened if you buzz the office, but I've found them open at lunch time.

The school now has a new "runner", and school policy is now to phone the police. I think the SN TA got fed up of negotiating with kids up trees/ on the roof.

Yes. My ds did. Another time they lost him for over an hour and didn't bother to contact me. They found him in a cupboard.

It's one of the reasons I now home educate.

Interesting variety of schools out there. I feel less bad knowing our school isn't unusual in its escapability.

Special school would never be an option though. Perfectly NT child, just having a bad day in a bad life.

Yes they can easily get out if they really want to. We don't negotiate with 'runners' we simply call the police when they go outwith school grounds.

DCs primary has multiple doors to the exterior none of which are locked and then you could just walk out through the car park

I would doubt there are many mainstream schools where a determined year 6 couldn't get out at all.

Yes, and they have done. One 4yo got a good mile down the road having decided that he wanted to go home. . They have changed policies to increase the frequency of head counting since then, but it would be impossible to secure the school and from Y4 I think any determined escapee could be long gone before they were definitely missed.

My child dug her way out of school... she was 5!
The only reason I knew was that when taking her to school she asked if I would leave the back door unlocked ..Upon asking why she said that her and her friends were coming home at lunch time to watch TV. I told her not to be so silly and she started to insist and then cry. She said that I'd spoilt her day and she'd have to go to another friends house instead.
It was at this point I asked her how she thought she would get home... apparently her and her friends had been practising already and had managed to dig and crawl under the school perimeter fence in the playground. I kid you not!!!!!!
I had noticed the day before that her clothes were exceptionally dirty and muddy - but put it down to just playing!
When I called the school headmaster and explained later that morning, to keep an eye on her and her pals he thought I was joking and a mad woman...he called me back later to say 'Yes' they had found the hole and the staff on duty had been informed.
I was horrified at the time but thinking back now - how the hell DD had planned it all, even down to the leaving the back door unlocked at home was shere genius.
Hey ho!

Only one way in and out when the playground gate is shut. So very little chance, not happened to the best of my knowledge. Gate to
playground is very narrow too.

had the school noticed he was missing? if not I would be pissed off at both him and the school.

however as a mixed primary and secondary - assuming you mean middle school then I guess there has to be a more relaxed atmosphere for the ks3 kids so it would be difficult to police a y6 v y7 child if they are in the same uniform

Yes, so could a 4yo. Wouldn't have it any other way.

Imo my concern wouldn't so much about children getting out, although Id be most comfortable with high handles on doors and locked gates outside. My worry would be how easy is it to get in. I work with children and once did temp work at an after school club at a primary school.The first time I went I arrived way before end of school and parents arriving, and just walked through the unlocked gate and door, straight into the school without being noticed. I was wandering around looking for the reception for a good few minutes, until I asked a child to point me in the direction. I could have been anyone!

Children of that age should know how to behave
I would expect children of school age to know that they couldnt just wander off.
Schools are not prisons and security should be concerned with keeping people out, not locking them in

Yes, PP is correct. Security in schools is to keep people out, not the children in.

At our school it would be possible to get out of the building, but not the grounds without being spotted and stopped. By Yr6, we'd let them go and call the police.

We cannot stop a child from leaving. We will observe from a distance but not run after a child in case they panic and run onto the road. Staff will inform parents and after 10 minutes of them being out of sight the police are called. For looked after children the police are called immediately the child goes out of sight.

School security changed massively after Dunblane and the nursery where the teacher was attacked with the machete