Only in Hampstead

I expect the teacher was used to passwords like that goldengirl especially from the boys

I once had a little boy deny any knowledge of the man, his uncle, who came to collect him. His mum had explained that he would be collected by her brother. At home time I asked the child 'oh look, who is this who has come for you?' 'I don't know' he said! Poor uncle was mortified...I had to ring the mum up and ask her to speak to her son who was being cross because mum was not picking him up!

When our GS was at nursery and then Reception we had to have a password to collect him until the teachers got used to us. DD suggested GS made up his own which he duly did. I can't remember it exactly but it was along the lines of 'smelly pants' and it was sooo embarrassing to have to say it to the teacher. Luckily she soon remembered me!!!,

I know what you mean though Nellie I've seen them herding the children round at half term and I'd swear some of them struggle with the names.

Obviously not right for a nursery to hand a child over to anybody - and certainly not when they're paying that much. I thought the nursery at DD's university was extortionate at £60 a day.

Yes, school, play group and the holiday club all had to be told in advance if anyone different is picking them up.
School and play group know me now; the holiday club allowed DGD to identify me because she was 5 and perfectly able to know who was supposed to be picking her up. Younger children may not realise.

I am still amazed at the one where the grandad picked up the wrong child, took her to the GP where she was prescribed medicine!

When I did pickups for DGs a few times I had to provide a photograph for the nursery and be introduced by my daughter. They have CCTV on the front door.

These tales are really dreadful I am sorry I joked about the first ones.

GS1's preschool was always told if someone other than his mother was coming to pick him up and at his primary school where he is in year 3 the children are kept in until the teacher sees who has come for them.

When my grandchildren were at nursery, I had to accompany the parents to the nursery beforehand, so that the staff could see what I looked like, ready for when I collected them from there.

When I taught in KS 1 we had a written list of who was allowed to pick up who (largely due to parental custody issues) Any deviation from this had to be notified to school office who told the teacher. This was often reinforced by a sticky label put on the child by the parent. We also used to stand with the class and "release" them one at a time as they spotted their person. As time went on we obviously recognised the regular collectors. Biggest problem was crossed wires with parents forgetting who was collecting or play dates. The social life of the modern child!

Hear hear mishap

DGDs go to a village school and playgroup.

When I picked up DGD1 from her church holiday scheme the helper said to DGD 'I am told that you will recognise your granny, DGD' and kept her back until she said - 'that's my granny'.
Of course, that will not work for a baby.

Thank goodness for our tiny village pre-school and school where everyone knows everyone else and all their relatives. I would have been pretty miffed if this had been my child.

Next week I need to pick up one GD from nursery and then her sister from infants. I'd better organised a note from my DD and take my passport I think.

Ah. That sort of nanny. I thought it was the posh kind.

Thanks Starling. Well found.

Crouch End nursery sent child home with wrong granny
www.hamhighbroadway.co.uk/news/crouch_end_nursery_sent_child_home_with_wrong_granny_1_3570294

And Gillingham!

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2013/oct/05/grandfather-wrong-child-kent-school

I wonder how long it took before the parents noticed! If they are so used to a Nanny looking after children perhaps they didn't recognise their own child.

I am surprised that the nanny did not notice