To let an 8 year old walk alone 400m to school?

[hibbledibble]

I am wondering what is considered normal nowadays in terms of freedom.

1. At what age would you let a child walk 400m to school alone through a rural village? Quiet roads and safe rural community.

2. At what age would you let a child walk around 1 mile to school in a city? Rough area, with the walk partially through council estates.

I guess we just beg to differ then. I think if we left the choice to parents some would let them come home from nursery - 2 1/2 year olds.

Nursery isn't school, that's a whole other ball game.

Plus, don't you think those children would benefit from their school knowing that their parents are that relaxed/naive that they'd let a 2yo walk home?