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Original poster

At secondary school …

12 replies

newbieewbie · 23/01/2023 19:39

is the norm just for children to walk home and be alone until parents return from work? Presuming a 9-5 type situation.

I can’t think of hearing of any after school type care for secondary aged children so have to assume it is what kids tend to do?

OP posts:

Atypical13435 · 23/01/2023 19:39

Yes, that's normal

LittleBearPad · 23/01/2023 19:40

Yes, that’s normal, barring after school activities.

PuttingDownRoots · 23/01/2023 19:40

At DDs school the library is open to 5pm. Canteen opens at 8am. Extra curricular clubs for an hour as well.

But no supervision as such.

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Spendonsend · 23/01/2023 19:41

It is. It can be a bit tricky in year 7 for the more immature ones, but a lot of schools have homework clubs or sports or drama clubs which add an hour to the school day.

Original poster

newbieewbie · 23/01/2023 19:44

Thanks all! It’s just dawned on me that I better start thinking about this for next school year.

OP posts:

UnicorseTime · 23/01/2023 19:45

Yep. But my daughter wouldn't have managed that everyday at all. She can do the odd day age 14....

ZenNudist · 23/01/2023 19:48

Yes ds1 is y7 and has got the school bus home so is home alone 430 til 5 when I get back one day of the week, every other day one of us is WFH. He also gets public transport back on his own when he has a sporting fixture we can't collect him.

We also let him walk around to a friends house and hang out in the local area or drop him at the nearby large shopping centre for a few hours with a friend, but not all his friends mums are ready for that level of independence! He is oldest in the year group.

longestlurkerever · 23/01/2023 19:50

I'm lucky that we can work from home a lot so my daughter walks home and looks after herself for a bit but we are at home. But her school library is open till 5, plus there's the public library on her way home, and friend's houses and if ever we are both in the office I'll encourage her to hang out at one of these places i think, as she doesn't really like being left home alone.

Original poster

newbieewbie · 23/01/2023 19:51

I’m only in the office two days per week and should be able to work it that I am home for 5ish so hopefully that will be ok for her!

An activity after school would help too if there was something she fancied.

OP posts:

UnicorseTime · 23/01/2023 19:54

It makes me want a wfh job to be honest. Just being around in the house would help.

PuttingDownRoots · 23/01/2023 19:55

DDs school finishes at 2.50 which was a bit of a surprise.

They mature a lot in Yr6 and Yr7. A year ago DD didn't like being home alone for more more than 20 minutes. Now she prepares dinner on my day I work 5pm-7.15pm

snowtrees · 23/01/2023 20:05

Yes normal. Yr7 just sort themselves out

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