UK mum horrified after 4-year-old son found wandering streets after escaping from school

A mum has spoken of her horror after her sobbing four-year-old son was found wandering the streets alone in the pouring rain after escaping from his school.

Alfie Summers managed to walk out of classes through an unlocked gate before crossing several busy roads - without staff realising he was missing.

He escaped unnoticed from St Richard's CofE First School in Evesham, Worcs., on Tuesday morning (5/10) before being discovered by a stranger half a mile away.

Reception pupil Alfie was found crying for his mum and "soaked to the bone" wearing just his PE kit in the torrential rain.

Police were called and officers phoned around and drove to several local nurseries with Alfie before eventually returning him to the right school.

Alfie Summers with his mother Katrina Deegan
Alfie Summers with his mother Katrina Deegan (Anita Maric / SWNS)

Furious mum Katrina Deegan, 28, is now demanding to know how her boy managed to escape from under the noses of oblivious staff without them noticing he had gone.

Full-time mum-of-four Katrina, of Hampton, Evesham, said: "It's every parent's worst nightmare and anything could have happened to him.

"I've had no answers from the school how this was allowed to happen. He could have been taken or he could have been seriously hurt.

"Apparently he was in a really distressed state and running back and forth across a busy road before a woman found him and called police.

"I dread to think that my little boy could have been taken from me all under the schools watch where your supposed to leave your child with confidence thinking they are safe."

The school was alerted after a local resident called police after finding Alfie sobbing and calling out for his mum as he tried to walk the mile journey back to his home.

Alfie told his mum he had decided to walk out because a teacher had been "horrible" and shouted at him.

Katrina added: "When I got the phone call from the headteacher I panicked and was full of dread - I thought I was never going to see Alfie again.

"He said there had been a 'little bit of an incident' and that Alfie had gone missing and the police were on the way with him.

"When you're told by a school there has been an incident you expect him to have fallen in the playground and bumped his head - not that he had gone missing.

"When the police turned up Alfie was so upset and distraught. He was soaked to the bone and must have bene terrified.

"The officers had to drive him around nurseries and schools because he was in his PE kit rather than uniform so didn't know where he was supposed to be.

"Alfie is four and he has only been there for a few weeks - he enjoys school and was so excited to be at St Richard's with his big brother.

"I asked Alfie why he left the school and he said because a teacher was being horrible to him and he wanted to come home to me.

"He's like any other child, he's not naughty and doesn't run away, he is usually as good as gold.

"I am so grateful someone kind found him because I dread to think what could have happened.

"If he had walked for five minutes more he would have been on a busy main road and the street he walked up is busy enough with speeding drivers.

"I went into school today and they were apologetic but couldn't answer my questions.

"I wanted to know where he was supposed to be, who should have been watching him, how he managed to escape - that's what's frustrating.

"They didn't even know he was missing.

"I was sat at home oblivious thinking my son is safe at school while he was walking around scared in the pouring rain.

"The schools seems to have closed ranks about it. I just want some answers because that is the least I deserve as his mum.

"There is a padlock on the front gate now , before then it was left unlocked for anybody to come in and out of.

"I had flagged it before because there is a front playground right next to the gate where children play and I always thought that was a bit of a safety risk.

"The padlock isn't going to do much either because the fence is only small and anybody could jump over it."

Katrina, who lives with partner Jake Summers, 26, says Alfie has been reluctant to return to school since.

She added: "Its upset Alfie and my others kids as well as others parents at the school because it could have happened to any child.

"He was really enjoying school to start with but now he seems frightened of his teacher, so that is something else we need to address."

Katrina says she has privately thanked the woman who called police at 10.15am to say she had found a child walking in the road on his own.

Officers took him round the local nurseries to try and find out where he had come from as he was wearing his PE kit and they could not identify the school.

Mark Ridlinton, head teacher at St Richard's CofE First School, has apologised and said they are reviewing their procedures as well as investigating the incident.

He said: "We are extremely sorry that a child went missing during school hours and we are very grateful for West Mercia Police for their support during this incident and that the child was found safe and well.

"We held a meeting with parents to discuss the incident and we are currently reviewing our procedures and investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident in detail.

"We will update all parents once our investigation is concluded and have begun taking action without delay on any issues identified.

"We have increased security on the front playground gate, and the front playground is no longer in use throughout the school day, whilst our investigations are carried out.

"We would like to apologise to the parents and the child for this unacceptable incident and assure all parents that we take our responsibilities extremely seriously and whilst in our care, pupil safety is our top priority."

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