Family think I'm bad for leaving child at school 10mins before door opens

[pointbla]

I take my year 4 child early 10 mins before the school doors open and leave him there. I have another child to take to another school. He's 9 , I see no problem with it , other children are there too. Also, I don't regularly do that just occasionally.
My family seem to think this is very bad and I am putting my child at risk as the kids mess about. AIBU?

From a person who works in the school office, it’s bloody annoying. So many parents, it’s only 10 minutes early, it’s only 10 minutes late, don’t want to pay for childcare etc etc. well, you know what, I don’t want to start early, stay late to look after your kids. The amount of times these unattended children end up in the sickbay is enough for me to bother posting this response.

I used to live next to a primary school older kids were dropped off at the gate nobody was hanging about yanbu

It's fine. My 10 y/o DD has been walking to school on her own (just down the road) for a couple of years, therefore is in the playground unsupervised for up to 10 mins each day

Lots of people do this at our primary school. It's not a problem as there are always teachers in the playground to keep an eye on them.

Parents at my children’s school do this. The school sent out a message telling them not to it.

Lucked me too! Our playground opens at 7.45am so kids can be dropped off at (free) breakfast club. The 4 playground supervisors are there from 8.15am and bell goes at 8.45am.

I feel very fortunate I have this option which has allowed me to commute to work worry-free for the past 7 years.

I have read so many threads where school gates don't open until the bell and thank my lucky stars every time.

I used to leave mine by that age and they used to sometimes make their way home by Year 5.

We had 2 playgrounds when mine were in primary infants so p1-3 parents stayed p4-7 it was rare a parent hung about

My 9 year old walks to school by himself. Him and his friends like to get there early to play football.
I don't see the issue with the playground being open so children can burn off energy before learning.

Well that wasn’t helpful! Should have said only one child being left. I’ll stay out of it!

"Well that wasn’t helpful! Should have said only one child being left. I’ll stay out of it!"
She did - "I take my year 4 child early 10 mins before the school doors open and leave him there. I have another child to take to another school."

Fine. I walked to school alone at that age

If school say it's a problem, then drop him off a ten minute walk away. Many many children walk to school at 9 years old. (And should do where they can).

At age 9 that's absolutely fine and age appropriate in my opinion. I'm assuming he is in the school grounds/playground so waiting somewhere safe.
Also, he must be about to go up to year 5 in September. Lots of year 5s walk to and from school themselves anyway.

Your post is incredibly confusing, a quick read makes it look as though you're leaving a 4 year old.

9 is fine. I'd do it if I had to.

I was 9 when I started walking to and from school on my own. Seems fine to me.

The amount of these children who end up in the sick bay

What does that mean?

If he’s old enough to play out on his own/ walk to school on his own then he’s old enough to play in the playground on his own for 10 minutes.

The amount of these children who end up in the sick bay

What does that mean?

I've only heard "sick bay" used as a term in Star trek!

You've left out a very important part of this from your OP and that's whether there's any playground supervision.

It's completely normal in most junior schools round here to drop your kids in the playground and leave.

Mostly though, parents are told not to do it before a certain time, due to no staff being on duty.

At 9 mine walked to school alone, it's fine

YANBU. My now 10 year old was walking to and from school when she was 9. I leave my 7yo by his gate for 2 or 3 minutes unsupervised but I know he is sensible. There's always staff on the playground but he doesn't need them anyway. It allows me to beat the rush of cars leaving, meaning I get to work earlier.

My 9 year old walks to school, and goes to the park and library alone. She's not 9 months! Your family are a bit bonkers.

Its fine, assuming your 9yo is sensible and trustworthy. Many kids walk to school alone or with friends at that age.

My kids were walking to school by themselves at that age, so if you trust him not to behave like an idiot then I really don't see where the problem is.