To leave my son in the school play ground and go to work ??

[Manda25]

My son is 7 (8 Next month) and in yr 3. For the last 9 months or so I have left him in the school playground about 10/15 minutes before the whistle goes. I ALWAYS leave him either when another girl in his class turns up (alone) or when I think enough parents (I don't know them) are in the playground. I always take him into the playground and don't turf him out at the gate - although we are in London we are in a nice leafy suburb.

So AIBU??

I'd do this, if we ever managed to get out of the house early enough to be there before anyone else.

Sorry - if it makes any difference ....my son and I have spoken about this and he is happy to be left.

er...what else would you do? What do other people do?

I think that it's hard. Has someone said something to you.

Our school has a policy that you cannot leave children in the school grounds at all.

Can you not ask one of his friends parents to take responsibility for the 'few minutes' until they go in?

I think that's ok. At our school parents and kids arrive from 15 minutes before the doors open (how???). As long as you know he won't attempt to do a bunk? It does slightly extend the time the teachers are in effect responsible for him but that going in time is such a grey area anyway.

Chasing ...lol - I leave the house at 8am - arrive at the school by 8.20am (by car) have a chat in the car for 10 mins ... take him in the play ground 8.30am ...and leave at about 8.35/8.40... I have to get to work for 9

yanbu
But if you are expecting other parents to keep a look out for him then you should ask them.

book him into breakfast club

Mrscrafty - how does that work with older kids? When dd1 was in year 6 and dd2 in year 3 they started cycling to school alone. I go past a few minutes later having dropped dd3 at nursery and check they've arived by observing their locked up bikes. It worked very well. Then last year when dd1 went to secondary dd2 and I worked out a new route where she does the last 5 minutes alone and takes herself in and then I do the ride by check in the same way. They were both enthusiastic about this and I think it's very good for them as well as frankly making my morning run a bit simpler. Your school would hate me

Someone said something today - made me question myself ... it is a battle in my own head with all the what if's (plane landing in school yard etc.) .... and the fact i walked to school by the age of 6 - and survived !

I leave mine at 8.30 - i.e. 15 minutes before the bell. They are Yr 6,5 and 3. I don't even take them into the playground, just drop them 200 yds from the entrance and they walk in.

BUT their school is in a lovely Surrey village, and their playground is supervised from 8.30am.

They also wait by the gates for 10 minutes at the end of achool because I cannot get to them until 3.20pm.

I judge it to be safe for my children, and they stick together.

Misdee - she doesn't need breakfast club (cost probably £2.50-£4) - she needs 10 minutes (if that) and she's happy he can be responsible for himself - in fact if not in law. I think it's a grey area but a perfectly ok grey area iyswim.

ok, just 10mins, but i think you should at least ask one of the other mums to keep an eye.

i have two dd's in main playground who go in by themselves, and one dd at the front entrance.

No breakfast club - he did used to go but they closed because not enough children went. I would never expect a parent to look out for him with out asking (and some times i do ask a parent) It is a smallish school (one class of 30 per year) - has electric gates on it and you can leave kids in the playground from 8.30am

YABU - the school may not be insured for hom, the teachers or govenrnors could end up liable if anything happened. He is your responsibility and you need to arrange adequate childcare.

personally i wouldnt with my 7 year old. I would book her into breakfast club or ask another parent to watch her if i really couldnt.

Well if the school say you can leave them in the playground from 8.30 it sounds supervised and that it's not a problem at all.

maybe there is no before school care
our school wont open gates until bell goes
result loads of children and parents waiting on a blind corner and road clogged with cars complete pain
like you I need 5-10 minutes impossible to get

I agree if school says 8.30 you are definately ok in any case!

I think it is fine. It would be silly to get childcare for a 7 year old for 10 mins. Lots of 7 year olds walk to the local shops, walk to school themselves or walk to a friends house - all of which can take 10 mins or longer.

At that age, ds was already walking to school by himself, so YANBU - especially if you are onyl worried becasue of hwhat other people think.

The important thing is: are you comfortable that he is both safe and sensible? And is he comfortable with being left? Stuff what other people think

Wow it's amazing how things have changed. I used to walk to and from school alone when I was five so did many if my friends. Obviously there were no paedos in those days because it was befor this here interweb.......! My little boy has just started school and I let him walk from the car to his class que alone the other day because he insisted on it. Admittedly I was a bit hesitant but it was only about 100 yds and I saw him the whole time.

I'd not think twice about leaving a child as old as yours! I think it's vital they learn to be able to do such things alone as older children definitely just so they gain some responsibility and independence.

YANBU.

Our school actively encourages parents to leave 5 -10 minutes early when children are in the summer term of year 2.
From year 3 onwards we are expected to see them through the gates and they go into the playground on their own.

It's never caused any problems and the children seem to like being a little bit independent.