To think this isn't acceptable with a reception child

[Igottastartthinkingbee]

A school mum stands at the bottom of the school field and watches her reception child walk along the path up to school. The entrance to reception class is through a small fenced garden where there's a big tree. Both of which obscure the view of the entrance plus the fact that the bottom of the school field is also downhill from school. There's no way she can see her child actually go into class. I see this almost daily. The mum also has two younger children (3yrs and 1yr) who are not with her when I see her do this. Their house is very close to the bottom of the school field (but not inmeadiately adjacent to) so the only reason I can think that she doesn't walk her child up to class is that she's left the other two children alone in the house. I know I could well be wrong on this count but why else would she not walk her reception child up to school?

I know there's not a lot I can do about this but it worries me. Both for the reception child and her younger ones.

Yabu.
This seems to be an assessed risk, they may have even checked it with the teacher and would probably know very quickly if the child didn't make it into school.
I find the UK is a little OTT in general when it comes to supervising children.

I would say to her that I would walk her DC into school for her. I think being helpful woild be the bet way forward.

I walked to school 20 minutes from 6. I'd happily send either of my children (3 and 6) to the end of the road to a familiar place if I could see them on the way.

Shrug - seems fine to me.

And the two in the house are probably in a playpen or something - I probably leave my kids alone in a room for 5 minutes when I'm doing things I'm sure.

Yup, can't see a massive issue with this either, I also think we are raising a nation of useless coddled children and would rather the U.K. Adopts a more independence encouraging form of parenting.

This over protective parenting seems to be contagious!!

Like Bunlicker I assume the 1 and 3 year old are fast asleep and that to walk the eldest 50 meters or so she'd have to wake them long before their natural wake up time. I used to have to do that when mine were those ages because we live 3 rural miles from kindergarten and buses are only run for school, not Kindergarten. However I hated to have to wake my youngest who would have been up hourly through the night and fallen deeply asleep half an hour before I had to wake him...

I was 5 in the late 70s and walked to school with a 5 year old friend (no parents or older siblings) until my family moved house and sent us to schools miles away. I remember being so proud and happy walking there in our own (I remember us singing that we were "big School Girls" ). It was a lot further than you're describing, though only a 5 minute walk.

I agree it's fine, personally. It wouldn't be if the younger ones were awake and had the runoff the house, rather than asleep behind stair gates, but you've no reason to think they aren't asleep and safe.

To be honest this would not worry me too much - maybe the others are still sleeping, partner could be at home, and it doesn't sound like she's far from the house or that her daughter has far to walk alone, and presumably surrounded by other parents and children. Maybe offer to walk with her child one day if you are worried - only a few days of term left and if you strike up a conversation it might put your mind at rest, or you might find that she does need support of some kind.

I dont see a problem.

I wouldn't have any issues with reception child walking up a hill to class alone. When at primary myself (90's) parents said goodbye t the bottom of the hill and we all went to the play ground until called in.

Another one who doesn't see a problem. I walked to and from school on my own at that age (including going back home for lunch) - shortish walk but well out of sight on my house and with a couple of roads to cross.

Speak to the school, they need to be in the picture.

I walked to school by myself in reception. At 7 I was walking my younger brother to school. It's sad how much has changed in a generation. My son didn't walk all the way to school and back by himself until he was in year 5, mainly because of a busy road.

In the case you are talking about, the mother has probably discussed it with the teacher. It seems a sensible arrangement in the circumstances, and the reception child has now been at school for almost an academic year.

I also walked to school in the 80's and crossed the road.

I don't see an issue if the child is happy to walk down a school path.

They take registers

Ok I stand corrected. Not much of the school year left to go now anyway.

When I was at infants school the headteacher spoke with all the children at the end of the first term to say she didn't want to see any parents waiting at the school gate at pick up! Early 1970s U.K. How times change.

Sounds perfectly OK to me and a rather lovely, safe way to allow her dd her first small steps to independence.

I know schools where children are dropped off at the gate and not at the door to the class or into the class itself. I personally find the whole idea of holding hands until the last minute suffocating for me and the child.

DD is older but we leave her to walk to activities since a couple of years now, especially where parking is a nightmare. She is more than happy to do this and I often don't look if she really enters a hall.

I think leaving a baby and toddler alone at home is more an issue but she may has safeguards in place or there may be even another adult still in the house.

I don't have a problem with this either.

I think on balance the level of risk is quite low. The fact that 'it happened in the 80s' isn't particularly a reason to justify it. It's just inherently not very risky.

Oh dear... Yes definitely would be frowned upon at my daughters school where parents were expected to go into the cloakroom and take them into class at that age (slightly over the top!) I understand how you feel though, I think I would be the same. If you live close and pass this house on your way to school at same time then maybe you could strike up a conversation with the mother in the playground and say how nice it would be if both kids could do the school walk together? She might feel like she has no other choice and like another user says be very grateful for the help - I don't agree with speaking to either the child or school about something like this, I can't see any good coming from that if she's clearly struggling already! :(

It wouldn't bother me at all. At DS's school (and his last school) parents aren't allowed in the playground so seeing a child to the gate is perfectly acceptable to me.

He walked to and from school himself at 7. It was very close, it was a safe route and I was happy and confident he could manage fine. The amount of stick I got for it was unreal. You'd have thought I was sending him down the mines!

I do find it very bizarre when the same people (often) who I hear whinging about how childish and immature 18/19/20 year olds are then get all aghast and horrified about kids having any sort of freedom and responsibility. You can't have one without the other imo and if a parent, who knows their child best, has risk assessed and decided it's fine and the school aren't objecting then I don't see why someone else would.

Maybe it's that she isn't the only reception parent that does this. The only other children I see walking themselves into school are clearly year 5 and 6. The other class doors are clearly visible from the bottom of the field, it's just reception that is tucked away round the corner, with fencing and a big tree in the way.

Sorry that should say 'she is the only reception parent that does this'

If you are worried about the child's safety why not offer to walk up with her?

when I was at infants school the headteacher spoke with all the children at the end of the first term to say she didn't want to see any parents waiting at the school gate at pick up! Early 1970s U.K. How times change.

Ooh the school must have been so easy to drive Past and park around... imagine!

'she is the only reception parent that does this'

If you see my post up thread this is probably to do with the age gap she has. I have a smaller one (but hers is still difficult) the result is that I just can't physically be as pfb as I would have liked to be I didn't have the arms free.

Smaller gap, not smaller child.

If she gets a talking to from the school it will stress her out and it's frankly not necessary.