Shaqusta Bi Hussain walked out of the nursery unit at Audley Infant School at the end of the morning session. After a search by teaching staff and the police, she was found safe and unhurt outside her home in the city's Stechford district.
In a statement, Birmingham City Council said, 'The school responded immediately by installing additional security measures, which include a second half-door to the entrance to the school. We have expressed our sincere apologies to the parents concerned. The child was unhurt in the incident.'
Staff at the infant school said its headteacher, Sue Hendry, was unavailable to comment. But she told the BBC, 'We think this little girl just happened to slip out unnoticed by the other parents or teachers.'