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Original poster

What age would you let dc leave school alone?

53 replies

Pleaseme · 22/09/2023 19:17

Twins so not alone, school out at 3:30 would need to walk 300yards up the road to a community centre for after school activity at 4:15. There is a cafe there so can buy hot chocolate/ ice cream. They are 9 so allowed to leave already. I’d give them a phone. They’d be collected after activity. Would you say they were too young?

OP posts:
MrsFionaCharming · 22/09/2023 19:22

If they didn’t turn up to the after school activity, would you be alerted straight away? Otherwise I’d something happened it could be 2-3 hours before you knew, which I wouldn’t be happy with.

tescocreditcard · 22/09/2023 19:23

I'd wait another year to be honest. I'd wait until they were in year 6.

Tlittle · 22/09/2023 19:24

My twins are ten and in y5. Have just started walking home with friends a similar distance.
I do take them though and would be ok with your arrangement if like said above they let you know if didn't turn up.

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Phos · 22/09/2023 19:24

2 9 year olds are perfectly capable of walking 300 yards alone.

Original poster
Pleaseme · 22/09/2023 19:25

Well I’d get them to call when they got there, so I’d know and then pick up myself at 5:30.

OP posts:
Mummyme87 · 22/09/2023 19:26

My 9yr old, in yr 5 walks to school once I get him over the main road, it’s probably a 4minute walk. He comes back a different way but similar distance and I meet him at the busy road.

Original poster
Pleaseme · 22/09/2023 19:26

They do have an older brother 11 who I could bribe to walk them up but he can get bossy if he feels “in charge” which leads to bickering.

OP posts:
PerfectMatch · 22/09/2023 19:29

Year 5 would be normal here

Original poster
Pleaseme · 22/09/2023 19:47

They are p.5 but Scottish system is year 5 more like p.6?

OP posts:
PerfectMatch · 22/09/2023 20:04

Year 5 in England is age 9 to 10, so I'm saying I think it would be fine.

IvorTheEngineDriver · 22/09/2023 20:07

Not before they were in secondary school TBH.

margotmargeaux · 22/09/2023 20:12

Phos · 22/09/2023 19:24

2 9 year olds are perfectly capable of walking 300 yards alone.

Agreed.

PuttingDownRoots · 22/09/2023 20:15

Walking is fine. Minecwalked home from school everyday at that age, to an adult at home.
As long as you trust them to be where hey say there are which is an added extra step.

RandomMess · 22/09/2023 20:28

With no roads to cross absolutely fine.

Vitriolinsanity · 22/09/2023 20:39

Dope DS, year 7.

Original poster
Pleaseme · 23/09/2023 11:01

RandomMess · 22/09/2023 20:28

With no roads to cross absolutely fine.

One road but it’s a 20 and straight with good visibility. I’m not concerned about them crossing it. I have been having them practice walking up whilst I shift the car.

OP posts:
ShowOfHands · 23/09/2023 11:03

Here there's no "letting" them. They have to be collected by an adult until they're in y6.

gogomoto · 23/09/2023 11:06

Mine walked home from year 5&3 together

HeadAgainstWall0923 · 23/09/2023 11:10

My son is 9 years old and in Year 5 and he walks home on his own.

I have known children in Year 4 walk home alone.

Original poster
Pleaseme · 23/09/2023 11:28

ShowOfHands · 23/09/2023 11:03

Here there's no "letting" them. They have to be collected by an adult until they're in y6.

I think there is a lot of variation on when they are allowed to leave alone. In our school that is p.5. In p.4 they were walked out by a teacher and waited until responsible adult spotted.

OP posts:
BananaSlug · 23/09/2023 11:31

That wouldn’t be allowed in my kids school it has to be year 6.

CurlewKate · 23/09/2023 11:31

If the school let them (ours wouldn't have) then yes of course. Absolutely no problem. What is going to happen to them?

ShinyBandana · 23/09/2023 11:32

I’d say that was fine.
What are the rules at school for leaving unaccompanied? My kids primary they can leave from yr5 with written permission but I think this can vary from school to school

dressedforcomfort · 23/09/2023 11:53

Hard to say without knowing more about the area.

Kids tend to walk around my area from age of 9, but I live in a quiet village with little traffic and lots of pedestrianised walking routes. Be very different if we're talking a busy road, inner city, rough area etc....

RampantIvy · 23/09/2023 11:55

When DD was at primary school there was a busy main road with a tricky junction to cross, so it wasn't until she started secondary school that she went to and from school on her own.

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