Father’s fury as school fails to notify him when his son, 7, went missing

  • Child strayed across two main roads, yet teachers failed to raise the alarm

By
Daily Mail Reporter

17:07 EST, 8 May 2012

|

17:10 EST, 8 May 2012


In the dark: A father was furious to learn that he was not notified after his seven-year-old son (not pictured) went missing from school (image posed by model)

In the dark: A father was furious to learn that he was not notified after his seven-year-old son (not pictured) went missing from school (image posed by model)

A fuming father has told how a school failed to notify him when his seven-year-old son went missing.

Keaton Wyles is said to have completed a treacherous walk home across two busy main roads after strolling out of his school’s open gates.

His father Adam Wyles, 31, claims staff took 20 minutes to contact police and failed to notify him of his son’s disappearance.

The youngster was eventually returned
to Greenfields Community Primary School, Maidstone, Kent, by staff
after he was spotted outside his family home.

Headteacher Dan Andrews said staff ‘followed the correct procedure’ and Keaton was ‘not wandering around on his own’.

But Adam was left furious and is calling on the school to tighten its security.

He said: ‘My wife had a text from a neighbour saying ‘Is everything ok? Keaton is out front.’

‘My wife was in town and I was at work. She had to phone the school to find out what had happened.

‘There was no phone call at all to my wife’s mobile or my contact numbers by the school.

‘The
school rung the police at 11am and said Keaton had been missing for
about 15 to 20 minutes on their log so they hadn’t got a clue where he
was.

‘We asked why we weren’t informed, as I have three sons in that school and they all have contact details.’

Treacherous walk: The youngster was eventually returned to Greenfields Community Primary School (above) in Maidstone, Kent, by staff after he was spotted outside his family home

Treacherous walk: The youngster was eventually returned to Greenfields Community Primary School (above) in Maidstone, Kent, by staff after he was spotted outside his family home

Head teacher Dan Andrews said: ‘I am perfectly happy with what happened. I’m confident that all of my staff followed the correct procedure.

‘As soon as he chose to leave, the police were called and he was returned to the school promptly and safely for the afternoon session.’

Mr Andrews said Keaton was ‘at no point wandering around on his own’, but declined to elaborate on the steps staff took to bring him back to school.

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The comments below have been moderated in advance.

‘Chose to leave’ ? What ?
Maybe the lesson was dull.

Never their fault? civil servants training manual never claim responsibility if anybody complains accuse them of being offensive always act natural dum and tell everybody what a wonderful job they all do angels and heroes.
/

Head teacher said child was “at no point wandering around on his own”. So who was with this seven year old when he walked out of school? Headmaster not good at Maths? Or does one child and nil other now equal two?
Head is “perfectly happy” with what happened. A seven year old wanders off and police have to be called. Teachers don’t know if in hands of pedophile or under bus crossing busy road but for goodness sake don’t let parents know. Head needs to be sacked in my opinion.

So your kid is an ill behaved brat, and you save your rage for the school? God knows what they have to put up with with him the rest of the time, they probably breathed a sigh of relief when he left..

“Mr Andrews said Keaton was ‘at no point wandering around on his own’, So who took Keaton home, if he wasn’t on his own? I think Andrews is an idiot. Your report says Keaton’s absence wasn’t noticed for 15-20 minutes – more than enough time for a pervert to accost the child and do his dastardly deed. Andrews should reassess procedures and be less satisfied over what is obviously a failed system.

“As soon as he chose to leave!!!” Seriously, this boy is seven. Why was he not being watched. Are we now saying anything any child of any age does is a choice? Surely it is the responsibility of the school, whilst during school time, to know where their students are. As a parent it is our duty to get out children to the school after that it must become the schools responsibility to look after our children. If not, why not?

‘Mr Andrews said Keaton was ‘at no point wandering around on his own’
If a neighbour saw the kid outside his own home, then Mr Andrews (the Head) is lying.

If that was my child who got out of school i’d go mental, i’d probably go even more mental with the comment the headteacher made saying how he was perfectly happy with what happened, he should be sacked !!!!!

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