That parents should take young children to school

[Peachybanana]

There's a new family moved in a few doors down from me who have a son in primary 1 so he must be 4/5 yo. Every morning I see him walking to school on his own, the school is relatively close however there is a road to cross which does tend to be busy with school traffic in the mornings and home time.

The parents seem like a lovely couple, would it be wrong of me to
1.mention my concerns to them?

1. go out there myself and make sure he gets across the road safely

what would you do?

[PresidentTwonk]

YANBU you could see my school out of the window but my mum still walked me when I was little

[Koalafications]

Seriously?!

I'm genuinely surprised that anyone would let their 4/5 yo DC walk to school on their own. I would contact the school and see if they are aware.

[TheDowagerCuntess]

I certainly wouldn't leave my DC to make their own way to school (eldest is 6, and only one road to cross), but you do risk looking like a massive sticky-beak if you say something.

It's difficult, because what's more important - beaking out, or ensuring the basic safety of a 4YO. On the face of it, the latter, right?

[CloserToFiftyThanTwenty]

Doesn't school have a policy about this?

When you speak to them next, can you invent a near miss accident mention how dangerous the road is?

[SavoyCabbage]

Are they from another country? Where I am loads of children go to school on their own and when the bell rings they all just go off. The school doesn't make sure everyone gets picked up.

In fact, yesterday I found a crying child in the park as his mother usually gets him from the park and she had t turned up.

And this is no county backwater. Our school is on a six lane road!!!

[SwingingBalls]

Do they collect the child from school? Our school won't release the child unless a parent/guardian is stood waiting.

Your neighbours obviously have no concerns for thier child so you saying something may cause tensions.

[Bogeyface]

I would go with "I dont know if you know as you have just moved in but there was a horrible near miss a couple of weeks/months/years ago on [that road] with my friends son. Thats why we all walk them to school, the way the drivers go around that corner...... just thought I would mention it as I wasnt sure if you knew" big smile and dont mention it again.

[Superworm]

The school should pick this up. 4/5 year olds coming to school on their should make them think safeguarding.

[lunar1]

I'd tell the school.

[merrymouse]

IME schools don't let 4/5 year olds leave the classroom on their own - and am sure this was also the case when I was at school in the seventies. Seems very odd.

[merrymouse]

I would call the school.

[Kytti]

It could be they're from another country. Where we live nobody even really checks there's an adult to drop off / collect. I wouldn't like it, but is the road dangerous? Couldn't you take them if they're so close and you're worried?

[Spartans]

Hmm not sure about this. If he is in year one he will be 5 or 6? Or is primary 1 not year 1?

Next doors 5 year old plays out with a couple of friends and is the most sensible out of the three of them when it comes to crossing roads and playing on the path. If he went to a school close I would imagine he could take himself. As it is, our nearest primary is 2 miles away.

However I wouldn't let my child walk on their own. I also not entirely sure having a word is a good idea. I doubt it will change their mind and probably cause some tension. If you are ok with that then do it.

[merrymouse]

P1 is equivalent of reception.

[merrymouse]

the most sensible 5 year old is still going to be pretty short and less visible to cars.

[hazeyjane]

Both the schools my dcs are at would get involved if a child as young as this was walking to school on their own.

[mimishimmi]

Same happens here. Most are from South Asian background. The kids wait at busy roads until I go to cross it with my DS (8) and then they cross with us ... they've obviously been told by their parents to wait until an 'aunty' comes along. It does concern me what the legal ramifications could be for me if something happened to them. Apart from that, obviously I don't want anything to happen to these sweet kids.

[Lagoonablue]

Too young. Tell the school. It's a safeguarding issue in the broadest sense. The school can talk to them about it in a helpful way.

I am all for kids having freedom to grow Into independent beings but not at 5.

[avocadotoast]

I'd mention it to the school rather than the parents. There's no need for them to know it's come from you.

[OrangeSquashTallGlass]

Tell the school. Our school had a policy of no child walking without an adult before Year 4.

[chanie44]

A neighbour a couple of roads away lets her children walk to school and they are about 8 and 6. I was really surprised, even tough it's only 2 roads away.

[BumpTheElephant]

I'm surprised the school allow it. DS1 has to be taken to the classroom and picked up from the classroom by someone over the age of 14. They don't allow them to go in on their own until year 3.

[BleachEverything]

I'm struggling to believe anyone would let a four year old walk to school and cross a road.

Unless they are thick as shit obviously.

[turningvioletviolet]

I've just had to write a note to dd2's school to say that I'm letting her walk home on her own. She's 9, Yr4. Without a letter they're not allowed to leave the teacher until a parent has been spotted. Not sure how it works the other way round though, it's not like the school can stop a parent allowing a child to walk to school on their own.

[SophiePendragon]

That is too little.

My 8yo walks on his own from a nearby car park which is about a minute or two's walk, and I still worry - and there are no roads to cross at all. (except a private one that's more like a driveway and very rarely used by a car)

Please say something to the school, not the parents, the school. They will do something about it.