To think it’s not us being too overprotective as parents

You are perfectly reasonable but at this age the freedoms given to kids do vary a lot.

Presumably if he is year 6 he will be going up to secondary school in September.

What's the plan for him getting there?
You will find once he's been there a bit that unless he's on a school bus he probably will want to go and play football or whatever with his friends.

My kids were at middle school at this age and cycled home - it was about an hour walk. They often stopped off at the park and got an ice cream,

Oh I wasn't sure if it was 45 min walk from school...but then only 20 min from home
Or 20 min from school/Park, and then 45 min from home.

I wouldn't have let mine do this alone, but in s group who go there often, I would. Not withstanding the fact its actually a school...are they allowed or is it trespassing?

I think the park they go to on the way home is fine for a couple of hours but not 45 minutes away. I let my dd go with friends to the park 15 mins walk away. We live in a rural community though. It's the only park here. Wouldn't let her go any further

My son is 11, year 6. He's allowed to cycle about 1 mile to a park and play out til 6 then cycle back. Some would find this shocking and would never allow it. Where we live is very rural, I have complete confidence and faith that my son can do this.
But, other parents would never be ok with this and that's absolutely fine. All kids are very different at these ages and parents should just do what they are comfortable with.
I absolutely understand the 45 minute thing for sure. I'd possibly say work towards staying out slightly later if you're comfortable.
The other parents can get stuffed. I don't think you're massively unreasonable tbh

I don't think you are being too over protective.
But I do think Y6 is a tricky age as there are lots of different approaches. And big differences in behaviour and maturity.

Eg. DD had a friend who wasn't allowed to be home alone for any length of time but was allowed to go out all afternoon visiting different people and just hanging out....personally I would be the other way round.

A lot depends on nuance of this situation- is this park 45 mins in opposite direction or will they end up just 20 mins from home still? Are they generally a good group of kids or are they liable to be up to mischief? What is the park like and the walk?

Personally it wouldn't bother me if they were out till 6pm as long as I knew where they were - a call to ask permission and also tracking his phone. And they were in a fair sized group. And it wasn't every night. I think it would be good to start with something more planned that you are more comfortable with, but is beyond where you are now.

45 mins is about 2 miles? That's a bit far.
I let mine out for 2hrs at a time though. Home for dinner. But we are in a village which acts as a natural boundary really!

You are not being unreasonable OP.Go with your gut feeling. Those that are pushing the boundaries now, whether children and/or their parents will be the ones with issues later.

What next after the park I wonder....it might not end well for them. Only a few weeks until the end of term OP 🙏

If there is a local park why do they need to walk 45 minutes to a park further away. No even sensible DD I wouldn't have let do this in year 6. DS is harder to trust I did allow him home late but only to the shops and park on the way home.

I definitely wouldn't be happy with that, walking home and half hour at the park yes but not wondering around god knows where until 6pm!
My 9yo has just started walking home alone with 2 friends, 5 minute walk- i let her to to the park around the corner too but not straight from school without checking in first.
My 13 yo I would allow to do this but not when she was year 6

Depends on the child and the area. I'd let my P7 do this. And so would most people where I live. But I'm in Scotland.

I wouldn’t let a responsible 10 year old be 45 mins away and out till 6pm in an area they don’t know

Doesnt matter how responsible a child is, they are still a 10 year child and who knows who’s around

Each child is individual and it’s perfectly normal for different parents to enforce different boundaries according to their children’s strengths

What makes you think the parents don’t care where the kids are? Have they said as much?

its normal for freedom to slowley extend (time and location) as childrens confidence grows. The more responsible a child is the more parents trust them.

I won’t judge others parenting either way, but personally would not let a 10 year old walk to a park 45 mins away.

Also agree with OP, you just don’t know what they’re up too and unfortunately bad things happen

There’s no right and wrong on who has judged their own comfort level and child’s ability/ maturity to do or not do xyz.

Another parent messaging to ask you why though is absolutely batshit!

Sorry but why the actual f has another parent text you asking this? It’s none of their business on how you parent. Year six is 10 years old isn’t it? 45 mins walking somewhere they’ve never been and staying out till 6pm I wouldn’t like either.

The only one being unreasonable here is the weirdo parent questioning you on text.

I'm with you on this. It's too young to be walking 45 minutes and staying out until 6.