My 6 Year Old DS Escaped From School - Security Is Very Poor

[KeepCoolCalmAndCollected]

After dropping off my ds at his primary school recently one morning, I was about to drive back home, when I noticed a flash of orange (the colour of his coat) tear past. My mind couldn't quite accept that it might be him, because only a couple of minutes before that I had literally seen him through the door in to the school. (I also wait and wave whilst he walks down a little corridor). I must point out that absolutely no one was manning the door.

I got out of my car, crossed a fairly busy road back on to the school premises to see him crying and being led back by some older children from the High School near by. He had covered a distance of approx. 130 yards, and very luckily had not actually crossed the road to get to my car.

I spoke to his teacher, who is quite senior, I think her title is Younger Years Co-ordinator, or something very similar, and to cut a very long story short, she seemed to take the matter very seriously in that potentially he could have ran across the road and been seriously hurt or killed (there are a lot of cars and busses at that time in the morning). She assured me that a new procedure would be put in place.

My concern is that this happened approx. 4 weeks ago and absolutely nothing has changed in terms of security. It is very very poor, in that say 5 times out of 10 the door is not manned at all, or the TA whose job it is, sometimes wonders off to deal with something else!

My son has proved that this can happen, because he did it. If he can do it, then potentially it could happen again, and next time a child could be killed. He is 6 year's old and I never would have thought in a million years that he would do something like this, but he did, because he could. I look at these little 4 year olds who are also very capable of taking flight, trying to go after their mummies because they are upset.

Also it was mentioned in their Ofsted report last year (not by me) that morning security is very weak,

Would you write a formal letter to the Head? I don't want to cause any ill feeling, but I am very concerned that this could happen to another child one day and it could be a lot more serious.

I feel that I can't let it drop, or am I being precious and unrealistic?

I am sorry to have rambled on and on, but I would really appreciate any of your comments and if any of you have had a similar experience.

Thanking you in advance.

[socharlottet]

At our school neither the gates or doors are manned and all wide open til about 9.15.I have never heard of a child doing a runner though.When they get to school they sit in their place and start their work, usually handwriting practice, whilst everyone else arrives.