What age for dc to walk home from school?

[Fantasisa]

Would it be ok for DD, age 9 and in Year 4 to walk home from school with DS, 11, in Year 7? I would get home from work within an hour of them getting home, we have nice neighbours and they get on well with each other and are sensible.

What age did you let your dc walk home from school?

[TokyoSushi]

Our school allows it from year 5 only so you might have to check with them too?

[Fantasisa]

There's no particular rule at our school

[NannaNoodleman]

You're going to get very differing responses. It depends on where you live. Make your own risk assessment.

I've lived in areas where I barely wanted to walk home alone as an adult. We now live in a village where I would absolutely let a 9 year old walk home alone.

[Fantasisa]

I probably should have said that we are in a small village and that the walk home is a safe route with only one road to cross.

[MegBusset]

DS2 walked home alone from the start of Y5 when he was 9. It was no problem at all, but then we are only ten minutes away with no major roads to cross.

I would suggest she has a phone, though (even just a cheap brick she can send texts on) so that her brother can message her if he's late getting out of school or anything?

[Fantasisa]

Good idea, I hadn't thought of that. She'd be delighted to get a phone!! Did your DS2 walk home with anyone? And was he at home without adult supervision for a while.

I think my pair would be absolutely fine, I worry more that it would be frowned upon by others in the village!

[MegBusset]

He sometimes walks with friends but often on his own, quite happily. In Y5 I was home at the same time, a year on he and DS1 are sometimes home alone for a bit, they just stare at their screens until I get home and make them do homework etc!

[Fantasisa]

That's what I think mine will do - be glued to their devices/TV until I get back and put tea on!

[BackforGood]

As has been said. You can only risk assess it yourself, knowing your dc and knowing the route, etc.

My dd3 had her own key in Yr4, and walked home on her own, but it was only occasionally. For my dc, it wouldn't have been a good idea with each other, as they would fight - they were better alone.
When she did come 'on her own' she actually walked down with other folks who walked virtually past our house so it would never be an issue for the walk home, just the 'being in the house' bit to risk assess really.

I think the fact you have nice neighbours they could go to if ever needed is a BIG plus.

[Deadringer]

I know you want opinions but you really are the best judge of your DC. It sounds pretty safe to me, and a phone is a good idea just in case. My neighbours DC walk home sometimes and there are several roads to cross, they are 8 and 10 and fine. I wouldn't let my 10 year old, but she is a bit immature for her age tbh.

[Fantasisa]

Good point, Deadringer. I think I might give it a try and see how it goes.

[IncrediblySadToo]

Of course it’ll be fine as long as it’s a safe path to walk on in the dark (given it will be after school soon).

Anyone in the village ‘judging’ can do one.

They’re well old enough, it’s nit like they’re YR & Y2!!

[Winsomelosesome]

Mine started walking aged 7, nearly 8 with friends but I realise that'd probably be classed as child neglect on MN.

[Fantasisa]

That's what I think, but it appears that some schools don't even allow it until Year 5 so not everyone seems to agree.

The route is very safe, one minor road to cross and DS will be with DD mostly anyway.

It will also save us around £2.5k a year in childcare fees so that definitely appeals to me too.

[Fantasisa]

@Winsomelosesome I know! But mine really can be trusted and I want them to be able to think for themselves a bit too.

[LeNil]

Mine have just started, 7 and 9. We live three minutes away, down a quiet, one way, small village street. They love having that bit of independence. We had to inform the school in writing of our decision to let them walk home alone.

[Chickenitalia]

My 9 year old (Yr 5) walks home one day a week after a school club, I could get her but it’s the first stage of independence I think. She is very sensible, has a phone and there are no roads to cross, it is about 5 mins walk, and we are in a village. I had to let school know this was ok, that was all. I check each week that she’s still happy to do it and if she changes her mind as it gets darker that’s ok too. One evening a week she stays home when I have to take ds out, she is by herself for maybe 30 mins before dh gets in and I am out for 90 mins at most. She knows not to answer the door or cook anything, has the phone handy and where a good friend lives nearby,

Ironically I would be more concerned if she was with her brother as they fight like animals and I would definitely come home to a smoking ruin 😩 But yes, I have had someone say to me they think it’s inappropriate. I think it’s fine because I know my dd and at the moment she is in that very sensible stage before the hormones kick in. Before very long she will be more independent and it’s starting the small steps towards that, showing she is trusted and setting the behaviours now which will hopefully continue.

[Mesmeri]

Mine does it, age 7. Its a 10 minute walk with 1 major road. I did a similar walk aged 5, 35 years ago (but if course, so did everyone else at that time..) Obviously there are risks, but not many, in my opinion, and how are they going to learn how to keep themselves safe if we never let them take any risks...

[Fantasisa]

I bet they love that! I haven't heard of having to give school permission in writing.

[BeyondAvoidant]

My two walk to school on their own - 8 and 9, yr 3 and 4. Literally 5 mins, one road to cross. They can't walk home as the school will not let them in yr3, even with permission!

I've been judged by friends for it - people who let their kids play out in the street from about the age of three 🙄

[ShinyGiratina]

Our school doesn't supervise the juniors y3+. At that stage after school permissions have a tick box for picked up/ own way.

I'm toying with letting DS1 y4 (rapidly approaching 9yo) walk on his own. I'm around due to younger sibling, but he's a sensible child, risk adverse if anything. It's a 3 min walk past 3 driveways and a minor road to cross. I am happy to leave him for 10-15 mins while I'm in the local area where he could potentially find me- he just likes quiet time on his own rather than being dredged out all the time.

At y4 and y7, it depends on their relationship (often better without a parent to play up to!) It depends on their comfort zone too.

[Fantasisa]

When will your school let them, @BeyondAvoidant? Surely that is a parental decision.

[BeyondAvoidant]

Yr4, with a written letter of permission.

I've had people suggest I'm going to get SS involvement for neglect. Lot of black hawk parents around here!

[SunshineAngel]

Some schools don't allow children to walk on their own until Y5, but she's not on her own. She's with her brother, who is in high school. I think it is okay, particularly as you mention you live in a small village and they only need to cross one road.

Just make sure they know who to contact in an emergency, that they're to go straight home, and ensure your son knows that he must go to pick up his sister - as I know a lot of high school lads like to mess around with their friends after school a little bit before they go home.

[BackforGood]

I don't think the school has any grounds to be "letting" or "not letting" parents make their own decisions - they'd have a difficult job evidencing there was a safeguarding issue. If they don't deem the parents competent to be making those sorts of decisions for their own dc, then there are bigger issues they should be looking in to around all round care.
At my dcs' Junior school they were released from the classroom from Yr3, no-one followed up how, or with whom they went home after the first couple of weeks settling in period. Same with schools i've taught at.