A missing child is every parent's worst nightmare. Hopefully, it is a feeling you have never felt. But it is one of panic and dread, as one mum found out when she was told her son failed to turn up on his first day of school. Knowing her responsible child would not skip class, the mum feared the worst for the year 6 pupil, who had walked himself to school.
Fortunately, her son was found safe and well. A search revealed he had been in class the whole time, much to the mum's relief. Nonetheless, she was left outraged by the mistake, which saw her worrying her child had gone "missing" without need.
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The frightening situation came to light after the parent took to Mumsnet to share her rage - and to ask if she was being unreasonable in feeling "so angry with the school."
Her post claimed: "First day back at school today - school is round the corner from my house. My son is year 6 and walks to school himself (he’s done this all last year no issues).
"He went to school as normal this morning and at 9.30 I revived this text from the school. 'CHILD1 has not turned up at school today, please could you call the school immediately to update us.'
"This immediate (sic) made me panic and think the worst! He’s very responsible and wouldn’t skip school so all the worst-case scenarios we’re going through my head!
"Rang school in a panic shoes on ready to run over! They asked me to hold while they called his class and he was there all along but had been missed off the register! They said he must have 'snuck' in past the teacher! He didn’t sneak we just went to school as normal!
"Anyway I know people are human and errors can happen but surely they should check before causing such alarm! I’m shocked that this isn’t standard procedure and more shocked that if he had actually been missing it would have taken them 30 mins to inform me.
"Spoke to head teacher and she was awful and so insincere in her apology and just came across very defensive! I want to take it further as I’m unhappy about the whole situation."
However, people advised the mum against action. While parents agreed they would feel "annoyed in your shoes" many felt the mum should overlook the mistake, provided it was not a regular occurrence.
One person wrote: "If this is an isolated incident then just leave it. I appreciate it was bad of them and v stressful for you but if it’s not the kind of thing that’s happened before, put it down to a first day of school confusion and muddle, and no harm done."
Another agreed: "It's mildly annoying, but mistakes happen."
And someone else said: "Understandable as you had a fright but it is an admin error and no harm done. Sneaking past is just chit chat not an actual suggestion the child did anything wrong. Also 9.30 is fairly quick to inform you."
Do you agree? Let us know in the comments below.
