My children are 9 and 6. They are both very mature, sensible and independent. The school they both attend is a 2 minute walk from our home. There is one small road to cross directly outside the school, however there is a lollipop lady who supervises crossing on this road.
I first allowed my elder child to walk to school alone aged 7 (end of year 3) but didn't let him walk home until about a year later (which the school HATED and would claim he was "nervous" which was rubbish, especially as they asked all the parents to allow their children to walk home alone from an after school activity, including my child who has done this since year 3). I always took the younger child to and from school, until recently when I began allowing him to walk to school with his brother, as it is so close and both are very sensible. I still always picked the younger one up and had noticed recently the elder child had been ordered to wait for me also (which I didn't say anything about).
Last week however I broke my toe. I cannot put much weight on it as it is painful, but also it won't help the healing process if I do. Because of this I am struggling to walk and have to walk on my heel. This is incredibly uncomfortable and also very slow, plus if I knock into anything it hurts and my balance is dreadful, particularly up and down slopes.
I telephoned the school the day after this happened to tell them of the situation. I explained that not only could I no longer pick them up for lunch (they are now on school dinners instead) but I would struggle to pick them up as part of the journey is on a hill. I'll try to explain it better; to get to the school you come out of our door into a small car park and then down a small alley which leads to a hill. At the bottom of this hill is the school. The school entrance is clearly visible from the end of the alley.
So I asked if it would be possible to - instead of attempting the hill - to stand at the end of the alley where the children could see me form school, cross with the lollipop lady, and then walk up to me where I would be waiting. The receptionist was very nice and understanding and thought it would be fine.
However I got a phone call a few minutes later from the receptionist saying she had checked with the headmistress with it and she "wasn't happy with it". The headmistress had said she would allow it for one day only, but the rest of the time I would "have to get someone else to pick them up".
I don't have someone who could do this every day! My partner doesn't finish until 5 every day. He can take a shorter day on Friday but we kind of need the overtime money right now. Besides this is just one day. My mother can also do one day, a Thursday, which is a day she doesn't work and does things with the children anyway. But the rest of the time I don't have anyone who could do this, and anyway I don't understand a.) what the problem is and b.) why she can't talk to me about this herself.
The stupid thing is they allow the children who do after school activities to all walk home alone with permission slips and minus the lollipop lady so it feels very hypocritical. I am not even asking for them to walk all the way home anyway, and they will never be out of my sight. But to be honest it seems a little ridiculous when they are allowed to walk TO school alone. I have seen other children walking home alone as well, and I guess if I hadn't ASKED they would never have said anything about it.
Consequently I was extremely late picking them up, I didn't want to compromise the hill until it was a bit clearer, both due to embarrassment and also safety, my balance is terrible on slopes plus a lot of the children tear out of school and along the paths on scooters yelling "BEEP BEEP" or "MOVE" to anyone who happens to be walking "in their way" - (no parents with THEM I notice).
I really want to rant at the headteacher but I don't now if perhaps it is me that is somehow being unreasonable and would like to hear other outside points of view before making a decision.
-Thanks