School Pickup Safety
Practical guidance on keeping children safe during school drop-off and pickup, including authorised collection and emergency plans.
What is this?
School pickup and drop-off are routine moments that benefit from clear safety plans. Knowing who is authorised to collect your child, having backup arrangements, and ensuring your child knows what to do if plans change can prevent confusion and risk.
How it works
Most incidents arise from miscommunication: a child expecting one person and another arriving, or a child being unsure what to do when no one appears at the expected time. Clear, rehearsed plans significantly reduce these risks.
Warning signs
In your child's behaviour
- • Anxiety or confusion about who is collecting them from school
- • Reports of being approached by unfamiliar adults near the school gates
- • Walking home alone when they are not yet ready to do so safely
Prevention steps
Maintain an up-to-date authorised collection list
Ensure the school has a current list of people authorised to collect your child. Update it whenever circumstances change and include photo identification if the school allows it.
Teach your child the plan and the backup plan
Make sure your child knows who will collect them each day and what to do if that person does not arrive — such as going back into the school office and waiting.
Use a family password
Agree on a secret word that any authorised person will know. Teach your child that if someone they do not expect arrives, they should ask for the password before leaving with them.
What to do if it happens
- 1If your child is approached by an unknown person at school, inform the school and consider reporting it to the police on 101.
- 2If pickup plans change unexpectedly, contact the school directly so staff can relay the message to your child.
- 3Reassure your child and review the safety plan so they feel confident about what to do next time.
Related topics
This is practical educational content to support families. For case-specific concerns about a child's safety, contact the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000 or your local safeguarding team.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Last reviewed: 2025-06-15