What age would you let siblings walk home from school?

[ThemysteriousH]

As the title says - I’m curious what age you’d let 2 (sensible) siblings walk a short distance home from school by themselves?

My DS do together, the school allows it - in fact suggested it, for days when my health is bad. They’re never left home together, an adult is always home.

I’ve been subjected to a social media status done by someone who dislikes me and many comments by their peers. Small town and I’m extremely sensitive as it is. Said person is blocked but I’ve received a few people messaging me and of course the screenshots alongside it.

I know I shouldn’t care or let it bother me. Feeling quite low so please be gentle .

They only went back to bloody school today. They get the bus in the morning (there isn’t one home), so I’ve no clue where this has come from , if the general consensus is I’m wrong then the days I can’t do it I will get a taxi for them. I do on bad weather days anyway.

Ours can walk alone from y5 but they can't collect younger siblings and take them home.

If it's a 10 minute walk and their aunt is nearby for 95% of the route then couldn't she just take a small detour and see them to your door?

Mine were a year apart and could walk home from last term of year 5. So about 10. They weren't allowed to walk together (when the youngest turned 10) though, as they'd just annoy each other and be twats, but were perfectly fine on their own. Walk was less than 10 mins, busy-ish B road to cross (30mph limit but usually slower at school pick up time cos of volume of traffic) with pedestrian crossings and a zebra crossing.

I think it depends on the actual children, the distance and how safe the route is.

Mine did when the older one was in year 6 and younger in year 3. It's a 50 minute walk but without any major main roads to cross.

I wouldn't allow a 7 year old to be walked home by a 10 year old. It wouldn't be allowed here anyway.

I have 19 months between mine, and we live 0.2 miles from school and there isn't a road to cross.

They will walk home in year 5 and year 4. Only because that's the earliest. They could walk home tomorrow if they were allowed. They're in Year 1 and Reception.

My son walked to /from school just before her turned 9 and not sure I would trust my sons to walk home together though! My eldest will get at secondary school by the time my youngest it 9 so it won't be an issue though. I think it completely depends on the kids, some are sensible some aren't.

Our local schools allow walking home alone from y5, but only release younger kids to a trusted adult.

My eldest got the bus home from age 7 and them accompanied my youngest together from ages 9 and 5.

@Hedonism she does on occasions, but not always.

The bus in the morning is a “breakfast bus” put on the school, no return one.

They go to after school club 3/4 days out of the 5 I should’ve said.

Really interesting points, thank you. I felt really emotional while posting and took it personally what was on social media.
The school are trying to get funding from the L/A for taxis when my big surgery comes up a I’d obviously be home so they wouldn’t be going to after school club and need to come home 5 days a week.
If not I’ll try and work my finances somehow to incorporate them, especially with the weather turning cold\icy.

Also thank you for the non-judgy replies, even with different opinions, it means a lot!

Our school allow children to leave on their own from year 5. This means 9-10yo. Pick up can be done by secondary siblings, so from year 7. So 11yo or older.

As your year 6 is already 11, if he’s born later in the year, he could already pick up a 4yo from DC school.