The father of a girl slain during the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida has challenged politicians to make schools safer, saying during a meeting with Donald Trump that “we as a country failed our children”.

“We go the airport, I can’t get on a plane with a bottle of water, but…some animal can walk into a school and shoot our children,” Andrew Pollack said during a White House meeting attended by students, teachers and families affected by school shootings.

“I’m very angry that this happened because it keeps happening,” Mr Pollack continued. “...How many schools, how many children have to get shot? It stops here.”

Meadow Pollack was one of 17 students and teachers who died when a gunman opened fire at the Parkland, Florida school last week. She was 18.

While students and teachers who survived the Florida shooting have vociferously called for new gun control measures, Mr Pollack said “it’s not about gun laws right now”, urging instead a focus on “school safety”.

“I’m never going to see my kid again,” Mr Pollack said. “I want you all to know that. Never, ever will I see my kid - I want it to sink in. It’s eternity”.

Florida shooting – in pictures Show all 10 1 /10 Florida shooting – in pictures Florida shooting – in pictures Police arrest a suspect in connection with the shooting at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida Reuters Florida shooting – in pictures Parents wait for news after reports of a shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida AP Florida shooting – in pictures Anxious family members wait for news of students AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee Florida shooting – in pictures Students being evacuated from the school AP Florida shooting – in pictures Students being evacuated from the school Getty Florida shooting – in pictures People gather waiting for word from students AP Florida shooting – in pictures Parents waiting for news on their children AP Florida shooting – in pictures People gather at a hotel where students were taken after the shooting Getty Florida shooting – in pictures Florida Governor Rick Scott speaks to the media as he visits Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School following the shooting AFP/Getty Florida shooting – in pictures Dr. Igor Nichiporenko, Medical Director Trauma, left, and Dr. Evan Boyer, Medical Director, Emergency Services, speak about treating victims and the suspect at a press conference outside Broward Health North hospital AP

The President nodded and flashed a thumbs-up when Mr Pollack addressed him directly, saying “Mr President, we’re going to fix it”.

In the aftermath of last week’s shooting, Mr Trump has signed a directive to ban the sale of a device called a “bump stock” that enables more rapid firing and has said he is open to tightening background checks for gun purchases.