The eight-year-old girl left the school undetected after her mother was contacted and told to collect her as she was suffering from earache.

By the time Diane Lawson arrived, her daughter Rachel was nowhere to be seen and no one at the school knew her whereabouts.

The police were contacted and Rachel was eventually found crying in her own back garden by a neighbour.

An education department spokesperson told the Tele today the girl was seen on CCTV climbing a locked gate and police were informed immediately.

The incident happened after the girl was told to go and get her coat and return to a reception area to wait for her mum.

Diane said today that she found the attitude of the school to be “irresponsible” and she had withdrawn her daughter from the school.

Speaking from her Balunie Drive home, she alleged that the school had failed to provide adequate supervision.

“I realise Rachel shouldn’t have left the premises, but what worries me is that she was able to do so and it appears it took a while for the school to actually register she was gone.

“Rachel ended up outside the school, unable to get back inside and feeling unwell.

“When I arrived at the school, it seemed that the head teacher wasn’t even aware of the problem.”

A Dundee City Council education department spokesperson said, “When the pupil failed to come to the reception area, an immediate and thorough search was mounted inside and outside the school.”