At what age does the average child go out unsupervised?

[elliejjtiny]

Please can you settle this argument between me and the dwp (or at least reassure me that i'm right as I know I can't stand up in court and say "but mumsnet says..." without sounding ridiculous .

Trying to claim dla for my 11 year old. Dwp are being annoyingly stubborn and whatever I say they will tell me that all 11 year olds do that and it's completely normal. Feel like i'm in some kind of parallel universe at the moment but I don't have an average 11 year old to compare him too so I just wanted to check.

So is it normal for the average 11 year old to need supervision outside the house? Ds needs someone to pick him up when he falls over (multiple times a day) and push him in his wheelchair if he is going further than about 50 metres or so. I don't have to hover over him constantly but I need to be close enough that I can hear him if he falls. I can let him play with his brother in the garden without me because his brother can be trusted to come and get me if there was a problem. I couldn't leave him on his own in the garden unless I was looking out of the window. He can't get to school on his own, can't even sit on a bike, let alone ride it.

Dwp says this is all normal for an 11 year old and children under 12 are all supervised outside because they have no road sense until then. That's not right is it? Most of the other children in his class are walking to school on their own, going to the park, riding bikes etc.

Most secondary school children get themselves to school by themselves. Whether walking, cycling, bus or train. So that is the academic year they turn 12, the youngest will be just 11 when they start secondary.

Prior to that, sensible parents will have been increasing freedoms.

With my eldest, we started by letting her play in the park without us from 9 (visible from our house), then by y6 she could walk to school, walk into our small town 15 minutes away. She was if anything behind the curve due to various reasons.

Many year 5 children walk to school alone round here.

Thankyou. I thought that was about right but I was doubting myself.

A lot of 10 and 11 year olds round here will walk to school unsupervised and yes some will go to the local park/coffee shop together too

My 12 yr old has been coming home from school alone, going to the shop etc from Yr5(10) and now gets the bus to school every day and goes out at the weekend to meet his friends in y7.

You are right. My primary school lets children walk home unsupervised in the upper years, and year 6 are allowed to cycle if they have cycling proficiency. You could see if any primary schools have these policies on their websites and use them as evidence?

Most parents I know do something like Teen describes.

However I do know a few parents of 11 and 12 year olds who won't let them do anything without an adult in tow, so I'd say that's not totally unusual either.

Ds is just 12 and he walks to and from school himself / with friends and has done since he was 9.

My goodness, I get middle rate DLA for DS and he can self-travel to school, it's outrageous you're having problems getting it with that level of needs!

Do you have an advocacy charity near you who would work on the application for you? They will be able to give you really good advice on what's additional and what isn't (I think everything you've said counts as additional needs FWIW) and can also help you with language/appeals. I would recommend going down that route very much.

Thanks everyone. Good idea about checking the primary school websites.

My 11 year old goes out on her own both on foot and on her bike - she goes to the shop/ postbox/ call for her friends or also just put for a walk/ride. She meets her friends and goes to the cinema or swimming without adult supervision. She will be starting secondary school in September and will be getting the bus there and back. She will get two buses home and will need to cross a very busy road both in the morning and late afternoon.