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.

Children of that age should know how to behave
I would expect children of school age to know that they couldnt just wander off

It's not that simple for some children. Try telling that to a child who is extremely anxious and their only coping strategy is to run.

We do the same as fleecy it's more dangerous to chase as we're near a very busy road. Some children I've worked with panicked if chased as well. We tend to watch from a safe distance until mum or the police arrive. Most of our runners know the community police and respond well to them.

Kids from our old primary not only 'escaped' (unauthorised 'out' lunch) they were found in the local wetherspoons!

wheresthelight child wasn't seriously missed until shortly before return. Child picked a free time session to go then once it was over and lessons resumed there was a huge school site to check before off premises was considered. Missing for approx. 50 minutes in total.

At DD's primary it's like Fort Knox, but it does also have an autism unit within it which I think has added a little to the extra security. I'm sure there's other NT children who would also like to escape!

The playground has locked 7 foot gates, which are only open at the start and end of the day. So unless the child climbs over two (slightly) smaller fences and escapes into the neighbouring park, it's unlikely anyone would get out. The early years and reception playground is actually in the middle of the school, so surrounded on all sides so no digging out to go home at lunchtime!

The main gates at the front of school remain open for access to the main front door, which is accessible only via a button in the office or an ID badge.

The 11 year old should know better. School isn't prison. Perhaps if something very bad had happened outside school the parent/s should have told school so they could keep an eye on the child.

Of course the 11yo knows better, that's why they do it. It's something where they can feel in control and get one over on the adults. The bolters are not like the 99% of children who wouldn't dream of it.

It is totally possible for a child to escape school. I am a foster carer and therefore have quite a few children with behavioural issues. They soon learn they CAN get out of school, mainly due to the fact that if spotted the staff are "not allowed" to bring them back by force - hence they do as they like.

Or to prevent them from leaving by physical means either, I should add.

It would be quite hard at our place. The only gates which aren't locked are the car park ones, but they'd almost certainly be noticed getting from the playground to the gates.

If you had a determined runner - for example we had a lad with Autism last year who liked to wind us up by looking as though he was going to run, although he never actually did it - we're not allowed to chase, but have to inform the police (and the parents), who follow it up.

Yes.
Local Primary has had kids walking out on a number of occasions.
Some time before it was noticed too.
Equally, anyone could walk in. Doors and gates left open and office unattended quite often.
Left unlocked at weekend recently.
LEA is aware but seems unbothered.

School staff can (and should) physically stop a child if they are going to cause harm to themselves!

At my school most children from about Year 4 upwards are tall enough to let themselves out the front door if they wanted to.

Is it a school or a prison? Never heard of children escaping from a school, leaving perhaps.

Not from primary school but yes from secondary school.

Primary school is locked as soon as the bell goes in the morning. Any late comers have to go through the office and be buzzed in. No access to any of the school apart from the office all day until 10 minutes before the end of the day and the gates are unlocked.

That's getting in Butterfly. I'd be really worried if it was that hard to get out- what about fire?

We have the special code locks which are locked from the outside but not from the inside. I assumed most schools would have these now.

We have the occasional zoomer and one day the (heavily pregnant) teacher was unable to prevent child running out of school. I followed him to a relative's house nearby. Unfortunately relative was not at home but neighbour (washing windows at front of house) saw us and asked child to wait with her while she contacted parents (who she knew well). I called school from neighbour's house and briefed them about developments. The school had already called parents, who were on way to relatives home. Neighbour invited me in to wait but I stayed outside. Child was fine.

We have a secure front door, opened by pressing a button. We also have a number of fire doors all around the school which can be pushed open easily from the inside. There is always a possibility that an unhappy child can escape if stressed about something. We have a number of children who are vulnerable and with SN. We strive to be aware of their moods and keep tabs on there whereabouts during the school day.

Re Dunblane, a man called Thomas Hamilton walked into a primary school armed with legally held guns, walking to the gym and shooting at the Primary 1 class that was there. He killed 16 children and one adult, and injured others. He committed suicide. He had also cut the telephone wires to the school before entering it. He is the reason we have made it so difficult to get into a school. However, we have to make it easy to escape in case of fire (my school did indeed burn down a few years ago during the school day; no one was injured).

I agree, a junior age child should know not to leave. In our school kids could leave but no one could get in. I'm happy with that. The school should be made aware if the child is likely to run is they can keep at eye out but it's not a prison.

Very easily at my child's primary, gates aren't locked. I've been up to the school at lunchtime and just wandered in. There is also a public footpath through the school yard, not even a gate on it. This is a 4-11 school.

A boy from our primary, 5, climbed the 6ft fence at the far end of the school field, and escaped just for a bit of fun. He came to no harm, just climbed back again when he was ready!

wow little that seems mad... my childs school is all locked. you have to buzz the intercom to get in the first gate thats on the street. then you have to buzz another intercom at the office door. and thats as far as you can get. the corridors are thobed.

Ghost ,..our school is like that too.....for getting in. But most are designed so doors open from the inside in case of fire. As they absolutely should be IMO.

Holepunch

Each class has it's own set of fire doors which open out onto the field. The field is completely fenced so a child wouldn't get very far.

My dc's primary school looks like fort knox from the front, high locked gates. But there is a gap in a hedge that children could get through There is also a fence at the back that is about 6ft, and some children including my ds have climbed over that for the lolz.

As far as I can tell, my ds's secondary school is completely open.

i think at my kids school there is an emergency realise sort of thing. when parents go in the school we have to be taken by staff so they can thob the doors thats on way in and out. when they first done it i did not like it. seemed like a prison. but i dont think my kids really notice it to be honest. probably because they dont know any different. my oldest son noticed it a bit. but hes left the school now