A 35-year-old woman has been charged after allegedly stealing a child from a primary school in Melbourne's inner suburbs today.

Police allege the woman walked into Fitzroy Primary School on George Street in Fitzroy and took a five-year-old girl about 9am.

The woman walked 600 metres with the child to Atherton Gardens on Brunswick Street about 9.40am, police said.

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Police were notified when a member of the public spotted the woman and child.

She was arrested without incident.

The child suffered minor injuries and was taken to hospital for assessment.

A Department of Education spokesperson said the primary school immediately notified police when it became aware of the "disturbing incident".

Detectives have charged the woman with kidnapping and she will appear before Melbourne Magistrates' Court tonight.