1. Policy Statement
Junior members are children in our care for the duration of a session, and that duty of care doesn't
end until they've been safely handed over to a parent, guardian, or another adult that parent has
specifically authorised. This policy sets out how that handover happens at the end of every Junior
class, so a child is never simply allowed to leave on their own say-so.
2. Who Can Collect a Junior Member
- A parent or guardian, or another adult the parent has named to us in advance, either on the
registration form or by telling an instructor or the office directly
- An instructor confirms who a child is leaving with before that child is out of sight - a child
saying "that's my mum's car" or "I'm allowed to walk home" is not enough on its own unless a
parent has told us that in writing beforehand
- Where a parent wants their child to be able to leave unaccompanied (for example, an older junior
walking home), this must be agreed with us in writing in advance - it is never assumed, and is
never accepted as a verbal request on the day from the child themselves
- If we don't recognise the person collecting, or nobody named has told us to expect them, we will
politely confirm who they are and, if in any doubt, keep the child with an instructor and contact
the parent before releasing them
3. If Nobody Arrives
If a parent, guardian or authorised adult hasn't arrived by the end of a session:
- The child stays under instructor supervision at all times - never left alone, and never left with
only one adult on their own with just that one child (see our
Code of Conduct)
- We'll work through the emergency contacts held on file until we reach someone able to collect
- If nobody can be reached within a reasonable time, we'll follow our
Safeguarding Policy,
which may mean contacting the local authority's children's services or the police as a last resort,
so a child is never left without anyone responsible for them
4. Keeping Records Up to Date
It's really important that the emergency contact details and any authorised-collector information we
hold for your child are current. Please let us know in writing (by letter or email to
info@cobrajujitsu.com) as soon as possible if these change, or if someone new is going to be collecting
your child on a particular night.
5. Reporting a Concern
If a handover doesn't go the way it should - a child leaves before being checked, or is collected by
someone unexpected - this is reported to Mark Adams as our Designated Safeguarding Lead as soon as
possible, recorded, and followed up, in line with our
Safeguarding Policy.
Parents and instructors should feel able to raise anything that concerned them, however small it
seemed at the time.
6. Review of Policy
This policy is reviewed annually or when BMABA guidance changes.