Does this sound ok? School run…

Not ok unfortunately. You can’t leave an 8 and 9 year old on their own at the school gates.

And that’s why the world is full of anxious adults in their teens and 20’s because you’re all rearing your kids like they’re babies for the first 20 years who can barely wipe their own asses, the lack of common sense in the majority of kids these days is embarrassing and it’s their parents faults but they’ll argue their kid is independent and intelligent because they can’t see what everyone else sees in their kid 😂

In the care of 9 year old? I guarantee there’s plenty of 8 & 9 year olds at the gate who cycle or walk to school alone and wait there at the gate for it to open. There’s kids and adults standing at the gate. Maybe your area is pretty rough with on ow drug users and knife carrying scum bags about, so I understand in that sense why there wouldn’t be kids walking alone. Regardless they’re left by a parent to wait for a few minutes with other and adults and kids at the gate so they’re not even alone.

It's fine, and those saying wouldn't be allowed are wrong. A school can't dictate how a parent gets thier child to school.

Doesn't either school have a breakfast club??

I have spent a long time stood outside our local primary school queuing for the last 7 years or so (my son in now in year 4 so not long to go until he can go himself). What would concern me would be other parents, if your child had an argument with theirs there are some parents who wouldn’t think twice about confronting a child. We don’t live in a terrible area either.

from year 5 onwards you can give consent for children to walk to and from school (well could at my sons school).

does the school not have sibling proirity in admissions? Can you go onto a waitlist for a place too (tends to be movement right up to September start dates).

would your older children be able to be schools on sibling preference places too?

i would talk to the school. If they run a breakfast club, that might be your option. How pick up going to work too?

Each to their own, but 7 years old - no way would I have wanted this for my DC even if it had been totally cool with the school.

it was 1988 when I was 7 and not a cats chance in hell my parents would have been chilled about that kind of independent travel

Best to speak to each school abut they can support you. I’m of the age when you walked to school from age 5 but the roads were much quieter. It’s ridiculous that they can’t get into the same school. I know you’ve been through the appeal process but I’d raise this with your local councillors and MP.

Public transport, then crossing at least one main road in rush hour to get to and from school. 1980s and late 1990s. Really don't understand this babying of children when they should be old enough to make simple journeys alone. Poor kids are so obsessively monitored nowadays.

This what parents at my DC school do, they just get a classmate's parent to keep a bit of an eye until the kids are through the gate.

I didn’t ask you? 😕

Yes, some children live in villages without local primary schools so have to travel. Not all parents drive or can take their kids to school.

When were your kids 7/8 old? @Bikergran ? This was a school bus or public transport?

Indeed. Two buses to school.
I suspect the school are self preserving against litigation. Accidents, horrible people etc.

My kids aren’t school age yet but I was walking to and from school (10m walk) myself from primary 3/ 7 years old? Do we not do that anymore? Maybe that’s a bit much these days but not even leaving 8/9 year old siblings together for 5 minutes for the gates opening really? If the school doesn’t allow it it’s different though

They can’t but if you want them to leave alone too they can keep them in unless they have written permission.

I’m in the UK and they allow it here in a lot of schools, but you usually need to let the school know in writing if they are under 10.

Would it be an option to stay with dc until gates open at 8.40 then go to younger child’s school for 8.50?

A sibling didn’t get a place?

FFS, what is wrong with schools these days? All my kids were travelling independently to and from school by bus at 7/8 years old.

I agree, it varies. I’m in Ireland but primary school children (which is to age 12 or 13 here) at our local school must be collected by an adult at the gate. It’s a rural area and the roads near the school aren’t safe for walking.
No doubt the rules are different in other schools.

I think it's fine as long as they are sensible children.
I walked to school with a friend aged about 8.

My son's Junior school had a main gate, that the caretaker opened at 7.30 am, to allow teaching staff etc onto the school grounds. The gate going into where the classrooms were was opened at 8.35 am, but this gate is within the school grounds. It very much depends if you're leaving your children outside an unlocked gate, that isn't on school grounds? Or if it's a similar set up to my son's school?

My son's Junior school allowed children to walk to/from school from Year 5 onwards. However, Year 3 and 4 were expected to have a parent present during drop off/pick up.

Only you know the set up of your children's school, we don't. I would look at the schools policy, and also if they allow an older sibling within the school to 'drop off' a younger sibling at the school.

I wouldn't, but that could be my own childhood talking. Things can go wrong unexpectedly.

Our DC are at different schools because one needs a SEN school, and they start at the same time with a 10 minute driving distance between them.
One of them is always late - however it doesn't affect their attendance record as we spoke to the school beforehand.