School sends 10yr old DS home to empty house.

[khaleesi71]

I work 50 miles from home and DH is SAHD. Yesterday DS was to go to an after school club until 4. However he 'hurt' his ankle and said he didn't want to do his activity. I say 'hurt' as our old cat was put to sleep this week with little notice and he's been sad and clingy (understandably). The school know this. As DS was not due back until 4 he was out on some errands. Unfortunately the area has a dreadful signal and there are some complete black spots so he did not see the 4 missed calls from the school. When he emerged from the black spot he picked up a message to say 'Finlay didn't want to do his club, he's hurt his ankle and we've sent him home'. To an empty house. DS was scared and upset but had the sense to take himself to a friends house and they wrote a note to put through our letter box so DH knew where he was when he got home. DH had come home as they were doing this. We have complained to the school and asked for their policy on this but I'm so cross that they put DS in this vulnerable position. Is this normal practice? I can't understand why they didn't keep him in his (paid for) after school activity whilst they contacted DH - who would have picked him up at 4 anyway.

If Finlay went home during the actual school day, the school would definitely be breaching their duty of care.

I would guess (but you need to check), that by the school offering further after school activities, that they have in effect, extended their duty of care, until the said activity comes to an end. Personally, is still expect to see my DS there, definitely, until the end of said activity.

I know I allowed my DC were allowed to walk home sometimes in year 6, but more often than not, I'd be there to pick them up. Between us, we worked out the safest way to walk home and they both carried keys.

However, with a child with special needs, only you and the school can honestly say whether he should have been safe to let him go home alone.

You need to make it categorically clear to the school what your expectations are. I'd also contact social services and find out how you stand, legally, with your son. They have been very helpful to me in the past.