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Original poster

Children walking home alone from school

123 replies

Jeclop · 11/04/2023 19:07

General discussion here.

At what age did people start allowing their children to walk home alone from school?

For a little context, we live in London in a fairly busy area that is also very touristy on Fridays - think well known street market that is visited en masse. School on said street. The walk home would be around 20minutes or a short cycle (on the pavement!).

My children are still a few years off being able to walk home alone but out of curiosity, when did you start allowing your children to walk home alone, with a parent waiting for them at home?

OP posts:

Turquoisesilver · 12/04/2023 14:25

Well, let them call SS.

It isn’t a fight I’d personally bother with, but it is a bit concerning how many people seem to think this is the schools decision: it isn’t.

See also not being allowed to leave the postnatal ward without your baby in a car seat …

OhMyCherriePie · 12/04/2023 14:39

I think most parents just follow the rules for an easy life. I don’t think anyone really wants to be flagged up as a ‘concern’

Turquoisesilver · 12/04/2023 14:40

Well, quite, but that’s still your decision, if you see what I mean.

SS really wouldn’t act on a child of nine or ten walking home alone, unless there was a wider issue relating to abuse or neglect.

Interested in this thread?

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Families

Summerslimtime · 12/04/2023 14:59

I think most parents just follow the rules for an easy life. I don’t think anyone really wants to be flagged up as a ‘concern’

It's not an easy life though. It severely affects the type of employment parents can take, and/or the family finances by having to use after school club or a childminder.

PuttingDownRoots · 12/04/2023 15:04

What age does it switch from being "interfering" to a genuine concern then?

8? 6? 5? Nursery? Could a 9yo collect a 5yo?

There has to be a policy for cut off somewhere...

Skybluepinky · 12/04/2023 15:10

Simmer term Year 6 so they r ready to walk to secondary school.

YetMoreNewBeginnings · 12/04/2023 15:13

OhMyCherriePie · 12/04/2023 14:39

I think most parents just follow the rules for an easy life. I don’t think anyone really wants to be flagged up as a ‘concern’

I don’t think it’s that. I think a lot of people just genuinely believe the school have the authority to decide and don’t ever think “hang on a second…”

DowntonCrabby · 12/04/2023 15:14

We’re in Scotland, DS walked halfway, after a fairly busy roundabout from late p4/age 8 then the whole way from the spring term of P5/9. Generally he’s in a group of the same 3/4 children.

YetMoreNewBeginnings · 12/04/2023 15:15

PuttingDownRoots · 12/04/2023 15:04

What age does it switch from being "interfering" to a genuine concern then?

8? 6? 5? Nursery? Could a 9yo collect a 5yo?

There has to be a policy for cut off somewhere...

The policy should be safety.

A standard age isn’t actually a safe policy. It’s just easier for schools to say “all of those can, all of those can’t”.

Its actually far more responsible (and reasonable) for a parent to say “you can at 9… you can’t until 11” based on the individual children.

For example I could have let DD1 walk to and from school alone perfectly safely from 5/6. Her twin sister I’d have been utterly irresponsible to allow until 10/11. Ironically they went to a school that allowed it - and actively encouraged it - from 9.

OhMyCherriePie · 12/04/2023 15:17

It doesn’t really apply to me as our school is not local to us and we get the bus so wouldn’t like mine to travel alone on a bus in primary school so don’t feel the need for them to come home alone, my son is technically allowed to as year 6 bus I have younger children in the school so pick him up as I’m there anyway and he isn’t comfortable coming home alone on the bus. Mine won’t travel alone until secondary for this reason so not something I’ve ever felt the need to challenge.

LegoLady95 · 12/04/2023 15:21

End of year 5 for my son, earlier in year 5 for my daughter as she was just ready earlier and couldn't wait to do it. Mostly with a friend, but also alone after a club or of friend off sick. Always coming home to a parent at home. Only a 5 min walk, crossing 3 minor roads.

tigger1001 · 12/04/2023 15:22

Fandabedodgy · 11/04/2023 20:38

There's definitely a cultural and age difference between Scotland (younger and usual) and England (older).

I agree with this.

Teachers, certainly in my local primary school, don't hand kids over either. In p1 the kids have to wait until they can see whoever is collecting them, and then they leave, but the teacher doesn't actually hand them over as such. From then onwards the kids come out themselves and find whoever is waiting for them or walk home. The school won't know who collects them or who walks home. No permission required.

I have seen some p1's walk home but generally it's around p2/p3. But we are a small town and most kids are within walking distance

daisybrown37 · 12/04/2023 15:37

Our school allows it from Feb half term in Year 6.

My eldest did not walk home until Year 7, but this is because I had to pick his brother up anyway.

We are probably a bit to far away for my youngest to walk all the way home once he is in Year 6, but I may meet him near school rather than going to the door.

HouseByTheSeaside · 12/04/2023 17:39

Year 6
London also

Sartre · 12/04/2023 17:42

Year 5 for younger DD who walked home with her sister who was in year 6 so they were 9 and 10 at first. Year 6, 7 and 8 now and all make their own way home. They all have phones and know how to safely cross a road, it’s a small village anyway so not really any concerns.

BogRollBOGOF · 12/04/2023 17:56

Start of y5 at 9. He was more ready to walk 300m along a fairly quiet road, let himself in and settle in for 15 minutes than his autistic nearly 12yo y7 brother was for a solo 3 mile bus journey and 1 mile walk including through alleys and woods.

I had wanted to let the older sibling go home sooner when he was at the local school but I was there for the younger sibling and he didn't want to walk in his own time.

The general culture is some point in y6, but we're virtually across the road!

Natsku · 12/04/2023 18:04

Second week of school, she was 6. Small town Finland.

HauntedPencil · 12/04/2023 19:34

Towards the end of Yr 5, quiet walk past lots of familiar parents & kids and one main but not very busy road to cross

mondaytosunday · 12/04/2023 21:06

Our school only allowed them to walk home at secondary- in primary they had to be collected. However on occasion my Y7 child collected my Y5.

livingthegoodlife · 12/04/2023 22:01

Year 5. But it does depend on the child!

Spiderboy · 12/04/2023 22:06

Year 5 here. DD walks (25 mins) or scoots (10 mins) it’s about a mile. They have a phone to track their location and always call me when they are on their way. I pick up in bad weather

wejammin · 12/04/2023 22:10

My son started walking on his own this February, in year 6. He has to cross a main road, through a small shopping centre, then a busy dual carriageway at a crossing, then another main road, it's a 20 minute walk.

I would be really quite anxious about it BUT I am taking his younger sister there anyway, so I am usually just behind him on most days, and I can always make sure he's got there ok when I get to school. DH works from home so there's always someone at home to make sure he's turned up at home in the afternoon.

NannyGythaOgg · 12/04/2023 22:48

I did it from 5 years old (1960) and it included a bus ride. So did my younger sister (1963) included 2 bus rides changing in the (small) town centre.

Starting secondary, I travelled to a near bigger town, having passed the 11plus. So, Day 1 at 11 years 7 months. Home to town, town to city centre, city centre to school. Had only done it once with Mum. Told bus numbers and stops.

My kids did it from around 7, about 500m across 2 minor roads, in the early 80s. Secondary was about 3/4 miles. Did it from day 1.

Whilst these aren't ideal today, the kids can do it if you trust them to. The kids are capable with training, trust and encouragement. I am not suggesting going back to those times BUT ffs, give your kids some autonomy to grow up.

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