Melbourne father ‘shattered’ after son was left forgotten for hours by school trip

A Melbourne father was left “shattered” after a screw-up on a school trip that involved his eight-year-old son.

An investigation into a school holiday program provider, Team Kids, has been launched after a young boy was left forgotten and unsupervised in a Melbourne school carpark for hours.

Eight-year-old William Cummings was supposed to be on a fun school trip with his sister last Wednesday, but instead spent three hours alone on the Dingley Village Primary school premises after he was allegedly left behind when the excursion left without him.

Stream more Australian news with Flash. 25+ news channels in 1 place. New to Flash? Try 1 month free. Offer ends 31 October, 2022 >

Eight-year-old William Cummings was left forgotten at Dingley Village Primary school for almost three hours. Picture: Kevin Poulter

The boy’s father, Nathan Cummings, said he had signed up both his son and his daughter to the popular holiday program.

When he got the news that his son was potentially missing, the thought “shattered” him.

“They were supposed to go on a rock climbing adventure that day at about 12:30,” Mr Cummings told Today on Tuesday morning.

“I was at work just doing my day-to-day job … and I got this phone call and I was absolutely shattered and in disbelief of what happened, I was so confused and angry and I had so many emotions going through me at once.”

It was William’s sister who noticed her brother wasn’t among the excited kids and notified the teachers.

Though they had not completed a proper headcount of the students, teachers reassured the young girl that her brother would be “somewhere” among them.

“They started looking for him and they couldn’t find him and that’s when it became frantic and trying to find out exactly where he was,” Mr Cummings said.

“So they made their way back (to the school) and they found him playing on the playground.

“(William) actually had to jump the fence to get back into the school grounds.”

Mr Cummings, who immediately left work that day to find his son, said the ordeal had left him distressed and his daughter shaken.

“I left work immediately and went to go get him and had a talk to the co-ordinator there and the regional manager and they said ‘this has never happened before’ and even they were very distressed about what happened so we tried to be calm and collected about it,” Mr Cummings added.

“(But) anything could have happened … worse case, he gets taken or hit by a car … even falling off the playground … I don’t want that happening to anyone or any other kid.”

Mr Cummings speaking to Nine News. Picture: Channel 9

Eight-year-old William was left unsupervised for an extended period. Picture: Nine News

It is understood that four staff members have been stood down as an investigation led by the Department of Education continues.

Team Kids has also admmitted that policies and procedures – such as a headcount – were not followed during the program.

In a statement to 7NEWS, a Department of Education spokesperson confirmed it was investigating the incident.

“The Department of Education and Training is investigating a report of an unsupervised child at a school holiday program run by an external provider,” the spokesperson said.

“The health and safety of all children is our top priority.

“As the matter is ongoing, it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time.”

Mr Cummings confrmed that William was doing fine after the incident.

Team Kids said in the wake of the incident it would work harder to implement processes and procedures and will double their headcounting.