Keep children supervised while a separate worker checks who is collecting them. Record the handover and any approved change. Have a clear plan for late collection or an unfamiliar adult instead of letting families search through activity groups.
Keep children in a supervised area while a separate worker checks collectors. Do not allow a crowd of adults to wander through groups looking for children.
Confirm identity and authority using your approved process. Familiarity alone is not enough. A neighbour who collected last year may not be approved today.
Changes should arrive through a verified channel. Record who requested the change, which child it affects, and who approved it. Do not act on an unverified message shown on someone else's phone.
Mark the exact release, time, and collector. Tell the group leader the child has left. A child waving at a parent through a fence is not yet signed out.
For a disputed pickup, keep the child safe and out of the adult argument. Follow the written legal and safeguarding plan. Staff should not interpret complex custody papers in the queue; obtain appropriate help.
Late-care staff need a fresh handover with names, collectors, health information they need, and any unresolved issue. End-of-day fatigue is a reason for a simpler process, not fewer checks.
Do this next: Test an unapproved collector, two children with the same first name, and a parent arriving after closing.
