to let my 14 yr old collect my 8yr old

[memorial]

From this year Dd1 (14 and half very sensible) has been collecting DD2 (8 very sensible) from school, ONE day a week. The other 2 days I work my excellent CM has her.
This day they both have activities so its helpful to have them both at home and ready to go when I get in.
Dd1 walks from her sec school at 2:40 finish, to DD2 primary in our village, to collect at 3:20, then they walk home 500 yards away.
Home at 3:30, Dd1 makes them a sandwhich, they get ready, and I am home 5:30 for their activity.
They both like it, I give Dd1 some pocket money and DD2 feels grown up. Win win. And no mad rush when I get home.
Except now the school says she cant collect her because shes not 16. CM could collect her from the class, walk her to the gate and hand over to DD1, but what a ridiculous farce. I have asked where these regulations are, but they have just got arsey with me.
AI really being that unreasonable??

My ds 14, is perfectly capable and trustworthy enough to pick up his sister 10.

YANBU. When my little sister started Reception, I (aged 12) used to pick her up and we walked home. It was about a mile, with a couple of busy roads, but I was very sensible and little sister was used to walking with me, held my hand and didn't ever run off - though she once sat down on the pavement and had a full-blown tantrum because I didn't buy sweets for her when she wanted them

I'm sure that it would be frowned on today and every child is different so it wouldn't suit every family, but because of our circumstances (working single dad, so I did some of the 'mum' stuff anyway) it was best for us. Most 14-year-olds, I'd imagine, would be more than capable.

YANBU - I had an issue with my DC's primary school as they would not let DS2 walk home in Y5 (to be met halfway by DS1 who was in Y8...the dimwit teacher on the SLT I had the misfortune to deal with said that 'only a few' DC in Y6 walked home alone so they found my request surprising - I wouldn't mind but we live in the suburbs, quiet roads etc). They also weren't happy with him being collected by DS1, but preferred that - the issue was that DS1 finished school at 3, DS2 at 3.20, it was a 20 min walk between the 2 schools, and DS2's school got arsy if any child was not collected on the dot of 3.20 (thereby complaining about occasions where DS1 was slightly late getting out of school and didn't get there til 3.25-3.30).

I thought DS2 walking part way home was an acceptable compromise, apparently not! I managed to get the school to agree in the end but not without a struggle and the very clear implication that I was being completely unreasonable, neglecting my child etc.

The school I work at started using a similar rule, but parents can still sign to say their child will walk home along / with older sibling.

It seems very strange for the school to insist on an age , surely it is a judgment call.