The children were smart enough to run away when he called out to them, but it could have been far worse.

The school principal said police had been informed of the incident.

“As a result we increased the number of teachers on duty including after school when students are leaving the grounds,” he said. “Some of our play areas have been changed so that students are not near the school

perimeter. A letter was sent to all parents notifying them of the incident with suggestions on how their children can stay safe.

“All classes have revisited stranger danger.”

Police were informed of the incident.

Constable Lachlan McLetchie confirmed a man tried to persuade the children to come over to his car but said police did not have a good description of the man or the vehicle.

This Collie incident comes hard on the heels of a warning to schools about four men of dark appearance in a white vehicle who reportedly approached a girl near a Australind school.