How to organise pupil collection arrangements

Get to grips with who can pick a child up from school, and what you need to do to make sure they're safe. Read about how to make sure parents and carers understand your approach to collection, late collection and pupils walking home alone.

Last reviewed on 7 July 2025See updates
School types: AllSchool phases: AllRef: 7209
Contents
  1. Work with parents and carers to put collection arrangements in place
  2. Enforce your own pupil collection policy
  3. Think about late collection too

While there are no laws on who can and can't collect a pupil from school, you're responsible, under your duty of care, for keeping children safe. Read on to understand how to work with parents and carers, and create your school's approach.

Work with parents and carers to put collection arrangements in place

Ask parents or carers to give your school a list of people allowed to pick up their child Update pupils' emergency contact sheets to include the list of authorised people Ask parents or carers to inform your school in advance of any changes to their collection arrangements (such as medical appointments) Make sure the teacher and office staff know if a pupil’s going to be collected during the day, and who’s collecting them Encourage authorised adults to briefly introduce themselves to