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AIBU?

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Original poster

AIBU to let my Year 5 daughter walk home alone?

110 replies

lemonbalm107 · 03/07/2026 16:11

DD will be going into year 5 in September and is sensible. Her school allows Y5 and Y6 to walk to/go home from school alone with parental permission.

what are everyone’s thoughts on this? We live a 4 minute walk from the school, with 2 residential road crossings (occasional cars, not super busy). Keen to encourage her independence but as she’s my first child I’m not sure overall.

OP posts:
SaltySeaAir · 03/07/2026 16:55

It feels weird to you because its all new. Mine is in yr5 now, and over a period of months I got further and further from school. By Easter he was walking on his own completly, about a 20min walk.

Sartre · 03/07/2026 16:52

Why even question it, the school allows it for a reason. My DC all started walking home alone at that age and their school was almost 2 miles from home, they survived.

NerrSnerr · 03/07/2026 16:51

My youngest starts year 5 in September and will walk alone (usually from the second week as we sign the permission slips in the first). My eldest did the same.

SockQueen · 03/07/2026 16:47

I've just signed the permission form for DS1 to do this when he starts Y5 in September, similar sort of walk.

In reality we will still be nearby as we have to take DS2 (kids who are allowed to walk independently are not allowed to supervise siblings) so that's a bit of a safety net for him, but I think it's a good start to building independence.

NameChangeAgain48 · 03/07/2026 16:42

I would start her in the spring / summer term of year 5. Probably from after Easter break. For the first week id send her and follow a few minutes after. I live in London, the roads are busy and mine would have to cross 4/5 roads.

Me and my husband were talking about this today because lots of kids walk to school alone. Ours a younger than yours and I can't imagine them going to school unsupervised. The eldest doesn't really have awareness of her surroundings shes distracted easily (ADHD) so I'm not sure if she will go alone.

catslovehairties · 03/07/2026 16:30

Of course it's fine. Children walk home from Year 4 here without any issues.

NoAprilFool · 03/07/2026 16:26

How old is year 5?
My daughter walked from just before her 10th birthday, with a friend.

MovedlikeHarlowinMonteCarlo · 03/07/2026 16:23

Mine did in year 5. I suppose it depends on the journey though. In your situation I'd let her.

HollyIvie · 03/07/2026 16:22

My kids walked from year 5. Village school about 0.5 miles. Was a bit nerve wracking at first but they were pretty sensible and was good for their independence. All down to the child I think and the route.

Hillarious · 03/07/2026 16:19

Sounds like it wouldn’t be a problem, but when my kids were at primary school, I was working the playground, getting to know other parents , teachers and kids, and understanding dynamics of relationships. When DC3 was in Year 6, they absolutely didn’t need me to collect them, but school pick up was my reason to leave the office at 3.00 pm promptly.