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Original poster

School not letting my child from the school

844 replies

Kutika · 05/09/2024 15:59

I have read numerous discussions where people mention that schools cannot legally prevent a child from leaving, yet I find myself in this exact situation. The school is refusing to allow my child to leave, despite my clear instructions. I've sent an email, filed a complaint with the trust, and even contacted the police, but to my surprise, none of these actions have resolved the issue. I was told by the head teacher that the law does not apply to them. Any ideas on who to contact?

OP posts:
Original poster
Kutika · 05/09/2024 17:36

SilenceInside · 05/09/2024 17:32

I honestly don't get why you want to, and have, destroy your relationship with the school instead of just organising for your child to be picked up?

You're issuing complaints, calling the police, having meetings with the head... why the desperation to have conflict and to "win"?

It's not about winning is about the school not above the Law. When the distance is minimal and the risk to the child is minimal.

OP posts:
MikeRafone · 05/09/2024 17:36

Whilst at school they are acting in lo-co parentis

The child is leaving school and has permission of the actual parent

Rocksaltrita · 05/09/2024 17:35

There is no law on the age at which a child can walk home alone. What the school is doing is entirely arbitrary. You could also get a solicitor to write a letter to them, OP.

jannier · 05/09/2024 17:35

Goldbar · 05/09/2024 17:01

What are they going to do when ASC finishes? Call social services or let her walk home?

Call SS for an uncollected child.

Orangeanlemons551 · 05/09/2024 17:35

We have a middle school system in our small town . Almost every child walks home from
year 5 without parents . Some get school
bus. I would see if you have free legal advice with your home insurance. Also you need to complain to governors of the school .

Notamum12345577 · 05/09/2024 17:34

SilenceInside · 05/09/2024 17:01

@Kutika your husband can block out his diary so he doesn't have meetings at the end of his work day, and then go and get her.

Not in the majority of jobs!

DelilahRay · 05/09/2024 17:34

This reply has been withdrawn

Withdrawn at the request of the user.

Choochoo21 · 05/09/2024 17:34

Do the year 6s get let out without parents?

I do understand they have a duty of care and anything could happen to her but you are the parent.

If she was younger then I would perhaps agree with them but i actively started encouraging my DD to walk short distances independently in year 5 and then allowed her to walk home in year 6, ready for secondary school.

If you have a mum friend in the same class, could they ‘collect’ her and then once she’s handed over let her walk home?

Heronwatcher · 05/09/2024 17:33

Kutika · 05/09/2024 17:17

There is no policy. I have requested to see if they could provide that information. They have other policies such as safeguarding, mobile phones and any other ones, not walking home.

Show quote history

But it sounds like there is a policy- albeit an internal one which is possibly not written down. Which is that year 5s can only walk home after April. I assume this is because of the lighter evenings or that the kids are 6 months older. Unless you are saying that you think that other kids in your DDs position are being allowed to walk home alone and it’s just your DD who is being stopped?

Schools are allowed to make rules about these discretionary type decisions- but yes they should be published on the website ideally. That’s why I am suggesting you discuss this with them and come to an arrangement rather complaints/ police which will just waste time and money which will just end up reducing the time that the teachers have to teach.

Reugny · 05/09/2024 17:33

jannier · 05/09/2024 17:32

I don't know of a school that allows a year 5 to walk home alone especially in the autumn and spring terms if they made an exception for one they would have to allow others. Whilst at school they are acting in lo-co parentis and must safeguard the child. Go pick her up

Show quote history

I know schools who don't officially allow but do allow it simply because parents are more bloody minded than them.

Original poster
Kutika · 05/09/2024 17:33

cardibach · 05/09/2024 17:30

It’s not a police matter that school has a policy to require parents to collect children. It may be a police matter if parents don’t pick up their child.

Show quote history

School have got a policy on it.

OP posts:
Original poster
Kutika · 05/09/2024 17:32

ineedsomemoremetime · 05/09/2024 17:30

The world has indeed gone mad. Our primary school has decided to prevent even y6 children from walking home alone after years of permitting it. No policy written. No consultation with parents.

This is what I am talking about. How they can do this?

OP posts:
MikeRafone · 05/09/2024 17:32

I agree with the school. A rule is a rule.

Why are the school deciding when a child can leave on their own and not the parent?

Its the parents responsibility to decide what is best for their child within a safety remit - not the school

Reugny · 05/09/2024 17:32

This reply has been deleted

Withdrawn at the request of the user.

Policies and rules aren't always the law.

SilenceInside · 05/09/2024 17:32

I honestly don't get why you want to, and have, destroy your relationship with the school instead of just organising for your child to be picked up?

You're issuing complaints, calling the police, having meetings with the head... why the desperation to have conflict and to "win"?

jannier · 05/09/2024 17:32

Kutika · 05/09/2024 16:50

Apologies for missing some details in my first post. My child is in Year 5, currently 9 years old, and will be 10 in October. We live just 300 yards from the school, and there are no roads for her to cross on the way home. The school is citing a non-existent policy that only allows children to walk home from April. I’ve already expressed my concerns, asking what difference these six months will make, but they are still refusing to let her leave. Instead, they’re placing her in the after-school club, which they are charging us for, without our consent. The child as no special needs or anything. School keeps saying that it is their desition and nobody can change.

Edited

I don't know of a school that allows a year 5 to walk home alone especially in the autumn and spring terms if they made an exception for one they would have to allow others. Whilst at school they are acting in lo-co parentis and must safeguard the child. Go pick her up

DelilahRay · 05/09/2024 17:31

This reply has been withdrawn

Withdrawn at the request of the user.

OakTree16 · 05/09/2024 17:31

School is not childcare.

ineedsomemoremetime · 05/09/2024 17:30

The world has indeed gone mad. Our primary school has decided to prevent even y6 children from walking home alone after years of permitting it. No policy written. No consultation with parents.

cardibach · 05/09/2024 17:30

Kutika · 05/09/2024 17:26

I have spoken with the police when the school is refusing the let my child walk home. To my surprise, it was mentioned that it's not a police matter.

Show quote history

It’s not a police matter that school has a policy to require parents to collect children. It may be a police matter if parents don’t pick up their child.

Original poster
Kutika · 05/09/2024 17:30

OakTree16 · 05/09/2024 17:25

Yabu. Most schools around here, including the one I work in, allow children to walk home from summer term in year 5 when the lighter nights start. If they make an exception for you, they have to make exceptions for others. If you can’t pick your child up, then you pay for childcare.

This should not be the case. What about parenting and their responsibilities? So if I decide to go on holiday for two weeks why do I have to pay the fine? So why does the school over rule the Law??

OP posts:
Procrastinates · 05/09/2024 17:30

Kutika · 05/09/2024 17:26

I have spoken with the police when the school is refusing the let my child walk home. To my surprise, it was mentioned that it's not a police matter.

Show quote history

You really wasted police time on this?? Hmm

MartinCrieffsLemon · 05/09/2024 17:30

KnickerlessParsons · 05/09/2024 17:23

In case it helps, in Guiding, if no one came to collect a child at the end of a meeting, and we can't get hold of a parent, our instructions are to call the police who will call social services.

Not quite true

If a parent had said they were allowed to walk home as this parent has then we would let them go

greengreyblue · 05/09/2024 17:29

Having said that, I’m sure our head would allow your circumstances. As so close, no roads Dad at home.

Reugny · 05/09/2024 17:29

CustardySergeant · 05/09/2024 17:27

I'm so confused. "They do not allow it to be an adult" - 'it' meaning the person who collects your child? If they don't allow it to be an adult who do they allow? 😕

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I think the OP means they don't allow it to be a child.

My DDs primary state the person who does pick up must be over 16.

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