AIBU to think it’s ok for my DD to walk school?

[alwaysgonnaloveyou]

I have been offered a job but my 9 year old DD (soon to be 10) would need to walk to school alone. It is a mile away. I would need to leave the house at 7.30 to get to work but the out of hours club provided by school doesn’t open until 8. I am a single parent and do not know anyone who would be able to pick her up from our house and drop her off at school. I have a 14 year old DD also who is super sensible but goes to a different school so she would be looking after him until he has to walk to school. Her school is in the opposite direction so she can’t walk her halfway or anything.

In my opinion 9yr old is too young.

Local childminder?

Lots of posters will say yes but tbh for me too young - I also wouldn’t leave a 9 year old to finish get themselves ready and leave the house alone.

No local childminders unfortunately.

In Yr6 maybe. But too young at the moment really. What would you do if she didn't turn up for example?

9 is far too young. As a PP suggested a childminder would be a good option

Too young to walk a mile alone in rush hour I think

Walking to school is the least problematic thing about your idea. Your 14 year old should not be saddled with the responsibility of ensuring their sibling has breakfast and gets ready for school.

There are other jobs.

I’d be able to talk to her on the phone whilst she walked to school. My journey to work would be an hour.

No . Borderline too young to walk a mile to school alone and most definitely too young to be left from 7.30am to fend for self/lock house/ make sure things are switched off etc

It's too young for me. I'm considering this with my youngest in September as oldest has a secondary place they need a lift to leaving at 8, youngest needs to be at school by 8.45 so DH won't be back in time from school drop to get him there (roughly 25min drive each way hopefully but can be longer) and I work so if I don't want to reduce days an option is we leave him at home and ask a friend to call on their way to school (unlikely as will be making a detour) or we leave him at home to walk. I really don't think he's old enough and so I've crossed it off the options!

She wouldn’t be locking the house. He sister would.

YANBU most schools say from year 5 to walk to school alone

she would be looking after him until he has to walk to school

Who is the ‘he’? Is there a third child-if they are older and both at the school, can they walk together?

Otherwise, no I think 9 is too young. I would look for a different job if there are no childminders.

Far too young.

No, in the winter that's a mile in the dark.

• 14 yr old is only just old enough to be responsible for themself in this scenario- not fair to make them responsible for a 10 year old.

No no no too young. My kids are 11 and 15 and we still worry whenever they are out of sight, I couldn't settle all day knowing that my child would be out walking alone for a mile. How does the child feel about this?

I’d honestly say too young - 2 minutes round the corner with friends and with an adult seeing her off at 8:30 is one thing, a mile alone having been supervised by a 14 year old since 7:30 just seems too much. But I daresay lots of people do it.

Typo ‘she’

She is 10 in May

Far to young to walk a mile to school alone. If my sister did that to my nieces or nephew I'd tell her she's neglectful.

What is the road like?

I’m reading this that your child is on Y5 and will be in Y6 by the time it’s winter at the end of the year and dark.

If the road isn’t too busy, but also isn’t completely deserted, has wide pavements and doesn’t include lots of crossings, I would be happy with this.

Are they in year 5?
When I started middle school, most of the 9 year old walked to school themselves. They still do. They look so small traipsing along.

I don't think your issue is the walks to school, it's the time between you leaving for work and school time.

I wouldn't have done this and I'm probably considered quite lenient as a parent. I don't think it's fair on the child even though they may be keen.

Speak to the school. See if there's any other parents who'd be willing to help or anyone who goes past your house at a similar time.

You say there aren't any childminders, but surely there must be at least somewhere near that we've the school.

I’m struggling to survive on my £25 k job. I do not claim any benefits whatsoever. I’d be on £40 k with the new job. I’m thinking of our future. It would only be one day a week she’d have to walk on her own as my parents can drive her for the other days.