Four-year-old found safe after slipping out of preschool

The pre- and primary school Kameleon in Anderlecht has promised to take steps to prevent children from leaving the building unaccompanied, after a four-year-old made a run for it on Monday. The little boy had wandered about a kilometre from the school when he was found.

The incident took place during the after-school care period. The boy reportedly followed another couple who had picked up their own child out of the main exit, though this information has not been confirmed by the police.

In any case, he made his way from the school on Rue Ropsy in Anderlecht to Avenue Fonsny near South Station, where he was soon found. He was taken to the police department inside the train station, where he was reunited with his parents. It is unclear at this point if he was found by the police or someone else.

“This should not have happened and is unacceptable,” said Elke Roex (Vooruit), Anderlecht city councillor in charge of Dutch-language education and youth issues. She confirmed that the school is taking steps to ensure that children cannot leave the school on their own while waiting for their parents.

“But it’s not simple when you consider the layout of the school and the corona measures that are in place,” said Roex. “We are trying a system where parents wait for their children in a hallway or outside, and the child joins them when they arrive. This way no other child could slip out.”

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