Home alone then walking to school Yr6

[SaltyRock]

I live almost opposite the school. My dd is 10.5 and if I stop taking her to breakfast club she would spend half an hour home alone, have to lock the front door, cross a road which although usually quiet would be quite busy with school traffic. She would have to walk about 150m to the zebra crossing, then about 200m back along the road, then into school.

She's a very good girl and sensible, but fairly ditzy and not the most organised.

Would you let her do it?

[FathomsDeep]

Does she want to do it?

[Sirzy]

Is she happy to?

I would be most worried about not locking up/losing the key from what you said about being ditzy

[daisydalrymple]

It takes us 3 mins literally to walk to the school playground, but I wouldn't do that no. Is there a problem with breakfast club? (Our school does free breakfast club from 815, so i would use that if I needed rather than leave them alone).

Is she pushing for the independence? Ds1 is 9 and desperate for independence, we are similar, can see the school from our house, but the traffic is crazy with parents double parking, going on pavements etc. I'm so glad I've got dd and ds2 younger, as will be walking them to school so it's not an issue for me.

[HanYOLO]

DS is Y7 and last year in Y6 most of the kids were getting themselves to and from school. We are a lot further than most and DS preferred a lift, but I wouldn't have had a problem with it.

Does she have a mate who could call on her on the way in?

I think it's fine, but would rehearse it with her.

[SaltyRock]

Thanks for the responses. She is keen to do it, but not pushing for it.
I spend £6 a day on breakfast club, but it's not a problem to keep doing it if needed.
She doesn't have a friend who could call for her unfortunately.
I think I'll probably end up deferring for a bit and maybe reevaluate next term or even after Easter.

[rainbowunicorn]

My almost 11 year old has been getting himself to and from school for the last year. It is a 20 minute walk from our house to school. He doesn't lock up in the morning as I leave just after he does but he does let himself in after school 2 days a week and is alone for approx 20 mins.
The majority of his classmates also make their own way to and from school so I can't see any problem with it.

[Hockeydude]

If she is ditzy, she might end up starting something for a bit and not remembering to go to school in time. Also, the driving and parking around schools is dangerous and shocking. A vehicle drove up the pavement at my dc! He was terrified.

I have a child the same age and I wouldn't do this arrangement.

[fdp86]

Hi,

My DD is 10 and now in Yr 6. She has a 25 minute walk home from school which she will do 2 nights a week this term. She loves having this time and responsibility. Next term we will up to 3 days and the term after 4 days. Then she will be fully ready to start high school and I will be happy she knows her routine. If you always lived your life by the 'what ifs' then you wouldnt do anything or go anywhere. Why dont you let her do this once or twice with you driving behind her and stopping at certain points. Discuss the points at which you want her to cross roads safely. Just my opinion xxx

[fdp86]

Sorry just reread through and realised you are talking about the morning. Discuss with her and talk through any worries with her. X

[Randytortoise]

I would let her. Make sure she knows how to lock the door (some have little quirks and you want her to be confident she knows how) . You could set a timer or give her a call to remind her to leave at the correct time (once the novelty has worn off).

[grumpmitchell]

I would let her. It's not far. She's nearly 11. And she wants to. Definitely let her.

[bearleftmonkeyright]

I think it's fine.

[claraschu]

I would let her do it. You could get her a £5 phone and call her on it each day as she is leaving to check she is locking up, and crossing at the zebra crossing. You could also attach the key to her school bag, so it doesn't get lost.

[VashtaNerada]

Y6? Definitely! Lots of Y6 children take themselves to school. Just do a few practice runs to check she's okay locking the door and crossing the road, and remind her not to talk to any strangers who pull over.

[LyndaNotLinda]

Yes of course!

Next year presumably she'll be getting herself to and from secondary school

[lisap45]

My sons 9 and is now walking to school with friends. It's only a 5 minute walk and he gets on fine with it. I wouldn't however leave him to lock up, it depends on your child I think, some are more responsible/grown up than others.

[SaltyRock]

Thanks for all the replies. We're going to do a staggered phase-in of this over they year.

[JacquettaWoodville]

Yep, I would do this. If you are worried about locking up, could you change your door to a Yale lock?

[BackforGood]

No.
Though I'd let her come home and let herself in.
I just feel the responsibility of locking the house up for the day is a lot, and, I suspect that most dc would struggle to get themselves out of the house at the right time - they'd get absorbed in a game or watching TV or reading or whatever, and no notice the time.

[Middleoftheroad]

I have twins in year 6 but I would not feel comfortable with mine doing that, but mainly because they're a little forgetful etc witk keys/crossing rds safely yet!