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Wales Online
Wales Online
National
Kelly Ashmore & Ben Hurst

Investigation launched after four-year-old let out on own by nursery

A school has apologised after a four-year-old was allowed out of a nursery - and was discovered wandering in a nearby road. The terrifying incident was discovered when the mum turned up to collect her son - and discovered he had been let out.

BirminghamLive reported that the youngster was found by another parent. The youngster left Ryders Green Primary School alone at around 11.30am on Wednesday, June 21.

His family claim he went out the door after a member of staff manning the exit had called his name, indicating a parent was there to collect him. The family told BirminghamLive that another woman was mistaken for his mother.

His uncle said: “They went to pick him up but were about five minutes late. They parked near the nursery and mum went to go in but at that point, the main gates were closed so she had to press the buzzer. They let her in and there’s a teacher at the door.”

The 41-year-old continued: “At this point, she’s in shock and tells her she hadn’t taken him and the teacher said a woman had come with a hijab on.” The boy’s father was said to be waiting outside in the car - and got a shock when another vehicle pulled up and his son got out after the other parent had spotted him in a nearby main road and investigated.

The school which is in Claypit Lane, West Bromwich released a statement where it apologised and said it was changing procedures to ensure the same thing doesn’t happen again. A school spokesperson said: “We are aware of this incident and apologise to the parents concerned. We have investigated this fully with the aim of putting together robust procedures so that a similar incident does not happen again. We are taking all appropriate action with regards to this matter.”

The school launched a formal disciplinary investigation in September last year following claims a reception class pupil - no older than five - was able to leave unsupervised at home time. The child was said to have been found next to a busy road by another parent, who took them back to the classroom.

BirminghamLive submitted a freedom of information request in a bid to establish the findings of that investigation, however, a response received in March this year advised it was still “an ongoing investigation” and an “outcome is pending”. Another request has now been submitted.

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