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.

None of the primary schools i taught in 15yrs back shut the gates at the entrance or any other car parking entrance. And none of them locked other entrance doors either during the day. And in last one we had a few incidences of drunk parents wandering in mid day and causing ruckus but nothing was done. I think it was due to budget not lack of care tho.

I think now a lot more schools do take more care/spend on locks etc. But the older they are the easier it is to plot your escape . I had a 9year old run away, he got as far as the road outside then was bought back by caretaker who spotted him. The child had family 'issues',

DS's old primary. Yes two 8 year olds got out and were found walking along an A road to get to the park. Luckily they were spotted and the police called.

DS's secondary, yes anyone could walk in and out at any time. It has a public leisure centre on site, so people come and go all day long.

trashcan I have a child who wanders. I have to keep my own house and the keys hidden so he he doesn't wander off while I'm on the loo. He also has no road sense at all. He is in a mainstream school, but wouldn't be able to be if the site wasn't secure. Even with 1:1, it doesn't take much distraction for him to go off on his own.