WIBU to mention this to school?

[ChaosTrulyReigns]

Really concerned that I might br interfering where I shouldn't but also concerned that this isa safe-guarding issue.

So MN guide me please.

Have seen a young child walking home alone from school twice now. It's probably 500yards,no major roads to cross. But he's definitely younger than the age the school suggests they can walk home from after a parent school conference.

Now I don't know whether school have made a special exception in this case and so I'm butting in unnecessarily.

Or, no arrangement has been made and the school needs to be alerted. I don't feel comfortable speaking directly to this parent.

You don't feel comfortable speaking to the parent? Rightly so. This is non of your business. The parent seems it acceptable, so does the school and those two are responsible for the child's welfare.

For the sake of 500 yards, there's no way I'd mention it (unless the child is 3).

Or is this a joke thread I'm not getting in my post Christmas haze?

Personally I would think you were interfering, it sounds like the route is safe and the child is confident doing it. I.really think it is the parent's call on this one

If they are 5yo or over, I think YABU. I think it's good for children to gradually build independance and 500 yards on a safe route is something most primary children should be able to accomplish alone!

I'm not sure the school know, Quitelikely.

What about the OP makes you think it's a joke thread?

You said the school suggested an age....if it was a suggestion then not a hard and fast rule. At my dc's school a form is to be filled in by parent/guardian if child is to walk, if not they wait with the teacher then into the office. Not sure if your school has this policy? If it has, or something similar then it seems it's alright.

How old is the child? Nobody can possibly say whether you are BU or not if you don't say.

If the school doesn't know how do they let them go. At our school children only get to leave when someone is there to collect them.

The fact that any child over five ought to be able to manage 500 yards from school.

Honestly, I am beginning to think people actively try to dream up safeguarding issues.

The school will allow year 6 pupils to walk home alone ifiit has been agreed between patent and school.

Thus child is year 3.

some schools don't think under 11s should walk home alone. Some of us find that absurd.

You're being VERY unreasonable! Of course a Year 3 can walk 500m home, alone.

xpost... I think YWBU to complain about a 7yo. I walked to & from school alone at 7yo. Crossing 1-2 busy roads. In a dodgy neighbourhood (we moved away after my brother got threatened with a pistol).

I'd be very cautious about butting in, OP. 500 yards without major roads to cross doesn't sound like a safeguarding issue to me.

Oh crikey, my year three child goes over to the local shop and everything, and I am the most risk averse parent known to man.

How do they learn otherwise?

500 yards? I honestly cannot see the issue.

Many many posters on Mumsnet say that if you are concerned about a child then you should talk to someone. It sounds like you are concerned about this child so you came to Mumsnet to get a general viewpoint, is that right?

It does seem from the responses that this is a normal thing for young children so may be nothing to worry about. I don't think you posting here is being unreasonable at all, I think as a society we SHOULD ask questions when we are worried about a child, if that means coming to somewhere like mumsnet then we as members should support posters and not bite their bleedin heads off for asking.

YABU. im in Germany, here 5/6 year olds go to/from school on their own sometimes using public transport. 7 yo walking 500 yards is perfectly fine.

Our local primary school is on high alert after a man was reported masturbating by the fence.
Chaos I know you might face a roasting on here. If it bothers you then I would mention it to the school. If you do this then the ball is in their court.

If under year six and that's the schools policy, then drop them an email. If it's all above board fine and if not they can deal with.

Yes, I would expect a 7 year old to be able to manage 500 yards unaccompanied. I think the school is being ridiculously overprotective in suggesting they shouldn't be allowed walk home alone until Y6 tbh.

AppleRings makes a very important point that I'd missed.

Teachers only release children when they spot the designated person. Therefore, this must have been sanctioned and is none of my business. So I'll not say anything.

I'm still quite uncomfortable about it, only because I wouldn't be happy with my year 4 child doing similar. I'm complete fine with understanding other parents have differing views on this though, as this thread has shown.

If you know the school's policy prohibits this then I'd drop them an email. It may be that the school know as it's unusual for a child to be allowed to leave without a named person to collect them but there's no harm doen if they have made an exception for this child that you're unaware of.

I assume the parents have to sign a 'home alone' sheet at school. Our old school had this (DSs schoolfriend was killed crossing the road about 100 yards from the school when he was in year 5).

Our y3 son walks home by himself a little further than 500 yards, he has one moderate road to cross ( with crossing) and we had to speak to teacher to specifically allow it as up to y5 they are handed over by teacher at end of school day, I would imagine school know about it.

I've just allowed my Y4 son to walk unattended a short bit at the end of school run with no crossings. I had a call as a concerned teaching assistant had seen him alone. They are OK with it but took some persuading!
I'm in one of those overprotective schools.

I'd feel the same though, Chaos, as they really drum it into us about safety at meetings.

It's a busy, non rural area that we live in. An elderly pedestrian was killed on the pavement by a driver in the last two years. So, I understand their concern.