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Parents' fury as young boys go missing from Chatham primary school

Zeak Harris-Ball, left, and Kane Hallam-Westbury walked out of Chatham's New Road Primary School
Zeak Harris-Ball, left, and Kane Hallam-Westbury walked out of Chatham's New Road Primary School

Families have spoken of their anger after two little boys were missing from school for around 50 minutes.

The parents of Zeak Harris-Ball, six, and his seven-year-old friend Kane Hallam-Westbury were horrified to hear their sons had climbed a fence to get out of school, walked to a nearby play park and then headed home across a busy road.

New Road Primary School, in Chatham, said it had carried out a full investigation and was stepping up security measures.

Zeak and Kane got out of the playground during afternoon break at about 2.50pm.

They walked past the school office and out of the car park before heading along Bryant Street to Chalk Pit park.

From left, Dan Westbury, Laura Harris-Ball, Dean Harris-Ball, and Tracy Westbury with Zeak Harris-Ball, six, and seven-year-old Kane Hallam-Westbury
From left, Dan Westbury, Laura Harris-Ball, Dean Harris-Ball, and Tracy Westbury with Zeak Harris-Ball, six, and seven-year-old Kane Hallam-Westbury

As it was wet, they headed to Maidstone Road, Chatham, crossed over and walked to Zeak's family home in Gladstone Road where they were found at around 3.40pm by a teacher - who had gone looking for them in her car - and Zeak's mother Laura.

Another parent had spotted the boys and alerted the school. When headcounts confirmed the two youngsters were missing from Year 2 Tiger infant class, police were called.

Zeak's father Dean, 33, said: "How could two children be missed and not counted back into class? They did climb the fence, but then walked past the school office and out the car park gate which was left open.

"Apparently they were hiding behind a tree and we've been told the teaching assistant thought she counted 20, when in fact there were only 18 children.

"It needs highlighting so it never happens again."

Laura said: "The panic of what could have happened to them is still with me. I've not been able to sleep properly."

Kane's parents Tracy and Dan Westbury, of Shipwrights Avenue, Chatham, are also unhappy about the incident.

Tracy said: "I was actually in school in another class with my other child, but the teachers never told me right away.

"We have thanked the staff and parents who did go looking for the boys on the day, but the situation should never have happened in the first place."

New Road Primary School in Chatham
New Road Primary School in Chatham

School head Elizabeth Caldwell said: "The safety of children at our school is our highest priority and there are strict policies and procedures in place to ensure children are not able to leave school without permission.

"These policies are designed to be put into place swiftly and effectively in order for actions to be taken to locate any missing child, and to notify and involve parents and the authorities at every point.

The route the boys took after leaving their Chatham school
The route the boys took after leaving their Chatham school

"We have apologised to the parents of both children involved in this incident and carried out a full investigation working closely with Medway Council to ensure this doesn't happen again.

"That included a security review of the whole site identifying the need to raise the height of some fencing and build new fencing in other parts of the grounds. Some of this work has already been completed.

"In addition we have also tightened up procedures, including ensuring children are counted on the playground at the end of break and again when they are in class."

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