A SCHOOL has apologised and strengthened its procedures after a three-year-old tot walked home alone – crossing several main roads.

Little Tanjida Amreen turned up on the doorstep just as her dad was about to set off to collect her from the nursery at Holycroft Primary School, Keighley.

"It is a miracle she wasn't hurt," said dad Akbar Ali, 28.

"There are main roads to cross and people who drive around here like crazy.

"Tanjida isn't old enough to know how to cross roads safely.

"This should never have happened and I don't want this repeated with any other child."

Supermarket worker Mr Ali – of Victoria Road, Knowle Park – dropped his daughter off at the nursery as normal shortly after midday last Thursday and was due to make the five-minute walk to collect her at 3pm, but was slightly late setting off.

"I'd got delayed with looking after my newly born daughter and didn't realise exactly what time it was," he said.

"I had just given my baby daughter to my mum and was about to leave the house when our doorbell rang. This was between 3pm and 3.05pm.

"At first I thought my brother must have come home with Tanjida, but when I opened the door there she was by herself. She'd come home alone.

"She was all happy and smiling, but I just couldn't believe it. I was completely shocked and upset.

"What if she had been kidnapped or killed? My children are precious to me and I am very protective of them."

He visited the school office the following day to demand an explanation.

"They did say 'sorry' but it isn't good enough," said Mr Ali.

"I can't understand how Tanjida was able to leave by herself. It's a lack of supervision and a lack of responsibility.

"I want other people to be aware of this and I won't let it go until I'm satisfied that it can't happen to anyone else's child."

Holycroft Primary headteacher Geoff Morrison told the Keighley News the "regrettable" incident was being investigated and that procedures had been strengthened.

He added: “We have apologised to the family and are carrying out a thorough investigation.

"I would like to reassure parents that the safety of children is our top priority.

“We have now strengthened our procedures at the end of the school day to ensure that this cannot happen again."

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