Would you leave Year 5 and Year 7 home alone after school?

[Jinglejinglejingle7]

Advice please. After a struggle following redundancy, myself & Dh are both getting new jobs. Ive had a job offer and dh looks like he's about to get an offer. Big change in circumstances as I'm going full time in office and dh will be hybrid, possibly 3 days in office. I may have some flexibility to finish early and wfh but I cant push that yet.
Problem is we have 2 dc, eldest year 7 youngest year 5. I think they are old enough to be left at home for an hour/ hour and a half. Eldest makes her own way home already, youngest gets picked up/ dropped off but its 15 minutes walk max and he's 10 now so could walk or eldest could collect. Dh worried that they're too young. I dont think we have a massive choice. Would u let 10 year old walk home, then stay with his sister for an hour or hour & half on they're own? They're sensible, get on well, we leave them now to run to shops/ walk dog etc.

A no from me, it's older to be considered capable of being left alone for a short time so certainly not with looking after a younger sibling. Yes they may be responsible and it used to happen, even quite normal years ago. No legal law I'm aware of but just not done now for safeguarding.

They are 1 year older than my kids and I don't think I would, sorry. Can you put the youngest in an after school club? If you are totally stuck then do you have a neighbour who you trust who could check up on them? But even with that I'm really not sure.

i would find childcare for the youngest if I could.

I can only write a few sentences, unable to go back and edit, very annoying! Wanted to say, unlikely I know, but if certain people got to know your 2 young children did this this could make them vulnerable or raised with SS. Brought up in the olden days but I wouldn't do this now with my own DC.

DS walked home from school in Year 5 and was alone for about 1.5 hours twice a week.

He had a phone. He called me when he got in and the neighbour over the road was always home in case there were any issues. There never were.

He was fine and loved the little bit of independence.

I’d send youngest to after school club until this time next year.
Eldest yes, fine to come home alone. Probably not ideal for every day though, are there any after school sports they could do for an hour? Or homework in library?

Yes I would. Well actually I wouldn't/ don't because my Y5 is an absolute liability but you know your children and if you're confident they'll be ok I wouldn't turn down a job in those circumstances. I'd make clear to the older one that although you expect them to be sensible they are not in charge of the younger one.

Year 7 yes but we put the year 5 into after school club.

I didn't think amy primaries allowed them to walk home alone, certainly not in my experience for the past 10 plus years.

I so hope this is a clickbait post to be asking these questions. Xx

The oldest one, maybe.
The youngest, no.
Does school not have wrap around care that you could use. For an hour. It’s only 3 days a week?
They’re only 12 and 10. It’s all fine if it’s all fine but what about when it’s not? Something goes wrong? My school would be unimpressed by a year 5 being home alone for more than an hour. I think you need some childcare for the youngest for at least the next 12 months.

I have this age gap. Year 7 got the school bus, made a snack and did her homework. Year 5 went to after school club.

When my older two were in year 5 and 7 they used to get the bus home together. The journey was about 45 min door to door and there was never an issue. One of us usually worked from home so they weren’t often alone once they got home but they would have been capable if looking after themselves for an hour if needed. Having said that school only let the younger one go home without an adult because he was with his brother.

Now that the younger two are years 5 and 7 though, I’d not do this because the youngest is quite unpredictable. If he’s in a good mood all will be fine but if he gets upset, his older brother wouldn’t be able to handle him. So I think it’s completely down to the individuals.

No - the older one, but not with the younger one. I just wouldn't take the risk.

Year 7 is absolutely fine.
Can you trial 1 day a week for the year 5 and use after school club for 2 days? Then increase if it works out.

My year 5 daughter made her own way home,let herself in and made a snack. She had a phone and we could check on the door camera. If they're sensible, I would.

I have a year 7 and a year 5 and would. If they are both very sensible and know how to contact you I don't see the problem.

it's an hour and a half! What on earth do people think will happen? Parents are so risk averse these days.

Our junior school allowed year 5s to walk home with parental permission (6 years ago). I think most allow still at least from year 6. If they don't allow year 5s to leave alone they probably won't allow a year 7 to collect either. Ours was over 16s to collect.

So this partly depends on what the primary school will allow. Otherwise I'd say it's not unreasonable for them to be home for a short period as long as they are sensible and won't fight.

Nonsense, year 6 children regularly walk home alone, it's important for them to start doing this as they should be building independence!!
Year 6 children are 11, not little 5 year olds.
Lots of children start walking home alone in year 5 one or two days a week with perhaps a parent in the house waiting for them or home in 30 or 45 minutes.

If you think a 10 year old isn't OK to be in their own home for 30-45 mins something has gone pretty wrong, a 10 year old should be fine for half an hour.

Yes, unless they’re ND they should be fine for 90 min. Unplug the kettle.

If they’re sensible and the year 7 picks the year 5 up and they walk together then yes. 12 and 10 isn’t wildly young to walk independently and be at home for a couple of hours if they’re sensible. I’d trial it before you start your jobs and see how it feels

Do you think a 10 year old or 12 year isn't safe to make a cup of tea?
Not being funny how are people raising their kids?!

Both my kids at these ages regularly made themselves a cup of tea when they got in from school, they knew not to put too much water in the kettle so that they could pour it fine!

Yes I defo would, assuming theyre both sensible or you wouldn't be asking

My 10yo (year 5) walks home to us in the house. She also stays at home alone for 30 mins whilst we go out to pick up DS. Her friend walks home and lets herself into an empty house.

I think it's fine. Not super ideal, but ok providing they can contact you. Some of these posts are over the top. It's fine others don't want to leave their kids, but Social Services will not be concerned about this!

My youngest walked home with friends from year five. She had a key attached to her bag with elastic. She was by herself for probably about half an hour until my year seven dd got home.

They knew that if they did daft things or were irresponsible that I would not be able to go to work and that this would have an effect on our family and how much money we had.

It’s bollocks that schools don’t let children walk home without an adult. And ridiculous. Children are negotiating bus journeys across cities when they are eleven. It’s madness not to start giving them some independence before then.

I’d be worried if a nine and twelve year old were baffled by an unplugged kettle. I reckon between them they could tack the code of how it’s plugged in again

Unless you live somewhere very unsafe I absolutely would. If possible let the older child collect the younger.