Carole Anne's mother is worried she will do it again

Carole-Anne Cullen made the 15 minute journey from Hardwick Infant School in Peartree alone.

The council admitted there was an "oversight" in that children were able to open the front-door lock.

It has now been replaced with one which only adults can reach.

At risk

But Mother, Kerry Blurton is not satisfied.

She said: "Something needs to be done about children being able to get out and it needs to be done now.

"A little girl was put at a lot of risk .

"I'm very worried and I keep going outside to check if she is walking down the road on her own and I think I'll keep doing that while she is still at the school."

She claimed even though the lock has been altered, other parents are leaving the door unlocked while dropping children off to nursery.

Andrew Flack, director of education at Derby City Council said: "It was clear on the day when it happened that although a great deal of work had been done on the security of the school, the front door for people going out wasn't high enough for children not to get there.

"There is video surveillance, there is the secretary's window overlooking that exit but there was that shortcoming.

Lock altered

"A lot of the incidents that have occurred have been about intruders in a school and we now need to learn lessons from this one."

"You can never be one hundred per cent sure and so you have to keep a watch on these things."

Mr Flack added that the lock was changed on the day.

A full review of security arrangements has since been carried out and other schools are to receive further guidance on safety provision.