iStockA mum has called on Fife Council to ensure that primary school playgrounds are secure after her child went missing during a lunch break.
On September 10, 2024, the woman received a call asking if her son was with her. She was confused and had assumed the then six-year-old was still at the Kirkcaldy school’s campus.
School staff confirmed over the phone that they did not know where her son was.
The six-year-old had taken his jacket and bag, walked out the front door and straight out of the gate. He made his way across busy roads back to his home, however, no one was in.
The schoolboy proceeded to walk down the road and became upset. A stranger noticed the six-year-old and escorted the P2 pupil back home, where the pair waited in the garden.
A member of staff at the school knew where the boy lived and left the campus to find him with the stranger. Police Scotland were not informed of the incident
An investigation was conducted by Fife Council, who deemed that a gap between a hedge and the fence at the school should be reviewed and that the incident should have been reported to the police.
The mum told STV News: “I think primary school grounds should be more secure.
“Not only do we have the issue of children walking out but on the flipside there is a risk of someone walking through the playground while pupils are outside.
“There is nothing stopping anyone from walking into the grounds.”
‘How is this still happening?’
The mum’s call for secure playgrounds comes in the wake of a similar incident last week, in which a schoolboy left Pittencrieff Primary School in Dunfermline and was later found alone in a park once staff noticed he was missing.
The child’s family and the community were informed of the incident, and a full review is now being conducted by the local authority.
The Fife mum believes the incident shows that the council hasn’t learned from her own child’s disappearance more than a year ago.
She said: “When I saw this I was angry.
“How is this still happening? It is important to have a good relationship with the school but incidents like this make you feel like your child isn’t safe.
“What is worrying that this happened in the same council area just over a year after my son managed to walk off campus.
“These children could have died while crossing a busy road. It terrifies me that when I take my son to school that I might get another phone call.
“I don’t understand why Fife Council can’t put in locked gates at primary school playgrounds. I don’t want this to happen to any more children missing or for any more parents to go through this.”
The local authority’s head of education, Shelagh McLean, has confirmed that children’s safety is “top priority” and when a pupil leaves school grounds it is taken “very seriously”.
She said: “Thankfully these situations are extremely rare. When they do happen, we carry out a full review to understand what happened and make improvements where needed.
“Staff are vigilant and buildings have secure entry and exit points to reduce risk. Our schools have arrangements in place to supervise our children and young people during outdoor activities and breaks. Schools also take individual children’s needs into account when planning their supervision and security.
“We work closely with parents and carers to maintain confidence that children are safe at school. If parents have any concerns about security or supervision, we encourage them to speak directly with their child’s school so these can be addressed promptly.”
Follow STV News on WhatsApp
Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
