The death of a baby girl found in a car on a Perth school ground by her distraught mother was a “terrible incident”, the institution’s principal says.

Emergency services were called to Kingsway Christian College at Darch, north of the city, about 5.40pm on Wednesday after the baby was found unresponsive.

“Words cannot begin to express the depth of sadness we feel as a result of what, at this time, appears to be the accidental death … of an 11-month-old child,” school principal Peter Burton said in a statement.

The principal posted his statement on the school’s Facebook page.

Western Australian Police Commissioner Chris Dawson said the baby’s 39-year-old mother had been at the school to pick up or drop off another child.

Upon finding her baby in the car, the mother rushed her into the school but despite immediate care she could not be resuscitated.

The length of time the baby was in the car will form part of the police investigation, Mr Dawson said on Thursday.

The baby’s mother has spoken with officers.

“It is a very tragic event and we will deal with it sensitively,” Mr Dawson said.

Mr Burton said the prayers of the school community go out to the baby’s loved ones.

He also noted there was a child care centre – Kingsway After School Care – on the campus that was operated independently to the main school.

“We are doing everything we can to provide pastoral support to the centre staff and parents who are understandably distraught about this terrible incident,” he said in the statement published on social media.

-AAP