School let child out early, went AWOL

[nutleywombat]

Hi everyone
Just want to get a bit of perspective on what other people would feel about this. Sorry a bit of a long one!
My DS is in Year 6. He is Autistic and has ADHD, finds school hard and on many occasions in the past has got overwhelmed at school. I've gone to pick him up and he has masked it while at school then exploded outside of school/once we get home. School know about this as I have spoken to them about this and in the past it was agreed they would call before end of day to let me know, and if needed I would sometimes pick him up from the office.
Recently a few times he has run off, once out of school office and once when getting out of car when we get home. Has returned home after a bit (we have a tracker in his phone so knew where he was). Today I went to pick up DD who is younger, waited for DS to come out and check in with him before he cycles home. No sign of him. Waited, got told by one of his friends he had gone home early as had hurt someone am. I went to find his teacher who said she was going to call me (when?!). Basically DS had a bad morning, hurt someone and lost his lunchtime (that's fine agree with that). Stayed out of classroom doing work for afternoon as was still emotionally heightened. School have decided would be best for him to leave before rest of school and let him go before parents arrived. Said he was calm. Called my DH and DS hasn't got home. Tracker not working on phone and so spent next hour trying to find him on estate where we live. Teacher went to look for him ect. He eventually came home very upset and cross. I am just so angry that the school, knowing his background have allowed this to happen. Surely they should have called me to check it was OK to let him go alone and early?! I feel that this is a child protection issue and want to complain. How would you approach this? What would you do?

^^ this

Absolutely bonkers that people think this is ok.

If school ends at 3.15 your kid is there until 3.15. No deviation without prior agreement. Ever.

I agree with others that being sent home early is different to being released alone at the end of the day. Whether it's a safeguarding issue depends in the timings and if you are seriously concerned you can approach the LADO but it sounds like the complaints policy is the place to start. Don't just go to the Governors, they will have to refer you back the complaints policy so it's a waste of your time if that's not the school policy.

Yeah that’s unacceptable and I’d be kicking up a huge fuss. Safeguarding failure that should not have happened.

Thank goodness some of us understand what safeguarding actually means.

Until the op confirms that they release him to her, then it's all assumption. I took it to mean that year 6 are released to nobody and she just happens to usually see her son in the playground. In which case, there wouldn't be any issue with him being let out a minute or two early, by himself.

Lol. I'm chair of governors at a primary with particular responsibility (among other things) for safeguarding. Seriously, don't say foolish things because you'll look like a clueless twat.

Yeah, me too 😂😂

I'm a secondary school teacher and our students can't leave site early without being signed out by a parent/carer - even the 16 year olds! I'm shocked that some posters don't have a problem with a 10/11 year old being let out early without a parent being told.

The school complaints policy should be on the website.

Thank you for your replies, a mixed response.
To clarify, my son is allowed to go home by himself and usually this is absolutely fine. We have worked hard to build up a routine to allow him to develop some independence before he moves up to Secondary school, it is a part of the day that he enjoys and allows him to decompress after being at school. One issue was that even if it was 5/10 minutes (couldn't get a proper answer about time frame from the staff member) this is before the end of the school day, I wouldn't expect him not to be there at that time. My main issue is that they know him very well now and experienced how he has reacted in the past from previous meetings with me, where we have agreed they will call me if he has had a bad day. Knowing he had had a bad day they let him go which has resulted in him going off agitated and not returning home. I feel that he was still in their duty of care for the time before he should have left the school. If they had called me to let me know then I would have asked them not to let him go as I know it could have resulted in this. I feel there was poor judgement used. For the person that said I should be upset with my son, we have discussed with him why we were so worried and what to do next time if this was to happen, but I don't blame him for the fallings of those who should be safeguarding him. I have a meeting with the school tomorrow to discuss this further. I would like them to holds their hands up and take responsibility for what they did wrong so it doesn't happen again with my son or another child.

OP asked what How would you approach this? What would you do?

Since the lad has 4 weeks left at primary I wouldn't put energy towards the primary school. I would revisit arrangement with secondary school about meeting his needs. So that's why I asked what are the plans for secondary.

Do kids still have "statements" ? I want OP to come back & confirm exactly what the formal in writing arrangements are for discharging her son (at primary &) secondary. That's what I'd do, double check the plan for secondary.

ps: schools shut down over summer so all the more vital to check all is in place for secondary now before no one is around to answer messages.

Can't help but think if a parent did a similar thing and school found out they'd be calling social services

We are having a meeting with the SENCO from his Secondary school (keep chasing him to set a date) to discuss the details of DS starting there, so this is something I will definitely be bringing up.

I think the only way of stopping this happening again is to revoke permission for him to leave school alone.
School need to keep him until they see you and then it’s up to you to decide if he can then cycle home.
I don’t think you can expect school to decide which day he can or can not leave alone.
Calling you to say he’s had a bad day is a totally separate issue from him leaving early IMO.

Yanbu
Leaving early because he is not coping is not the same as going home by himself at the normal time. His state of mind will put him at greater risk.