to ask you should a year 5 child walk 1 1/2 miles to school? more wwyd

[medic78]

Ds currently gets a bus to school but it is proving expensive. Would you let your year 5 child walk to school with a couple of friends.
Thank you

Yes. All of mine were walking without supervision at that age. To put it in context, small town, one zebra crossing and lots of children walk alone from yr4 as it is a split site primary so lots of parents juggling pick up and drop off with multiple children.

Yes. Or on a scooter or bike. Usual caveats wrt to traffic apply.

Yes provided the child is sensible. You will also need to do the walk together a few times (and then stalk him as he does it 'alone' for a few more).

"I think its not somewhere I'd economise personally"

Same here. Could he get the bus to school and walk home? In bad weather he would be sat in damp clothes all day if he walked to school. If he got wet on the way home he could get changed once home.

Dd - yes, I would have done as she had good road sense at age 10. Ds I probably wouldn't as he could be easily distracted particularly with his mates

So while it may be useful to canvass opinions as a general thing, you really need to look at the specifics of your situation

No I wouldnt, our school only releases without an adult in year six so it seems they deem that a sensible age to walk home alone.

Yes. My DD walks home (summer- light evenings only) with out me and has done for a year. She's year 5. For us, it's a mile down a busy A road that runs through the village with minor roads to cross.

I did once discuss her route home with her, and I ended up getting the safety lecture, as she didn't go home the direct way I thought she would. Apparently, she chooses to go a different way because then there is a lollipop lady and traffic lights to help her cross the road, and didn't I know that was much safer? Well, that was me told! Children can be do much more mature when you give them the chance to prove it.

Many schools in my locality allow children to walk home alone from year 3 (juniors) onwards. My friend lives in Switzerland, and there you're considered to be an overbearing mother if you want to walk your six year old to school! (And she lives a mile away down a busy A road equivalent!).