To report siblings walking home to the school

[ExpectoPatronums]

I just collected my child from school. I was behind a group of what must have been 3 siblings, the youngest was from reception class, another that looked like he was also in infants and then an older child who had collected them. The older child looked to me like he was only somewhere between 10 and 12. They were larking about and at one point one of the younger ones ended up in the road and a car had to stop. Luckily the car was going slowly as it is fairly congested around there.
Should I report this to the school? I have no idea of the childrens names but did take a photo of the back of them from a distance further up the road so the school might be able to identify them.
I know I probably should but it also feels like I'm sticking my nose in.

AIBU if I report this to the school?

How would you feel if one of them got run over and you hadn’t said anything?

At my school nobody under 18 is allowed to pick up the children so this seems a bit lax if the school have permitted it.

I'd report it.

I imagine it's out of necessity but it's not safe and you'd feel awful if anything - God forbid - were to happen and you'd kept quiet.

It could be that the family have a special arrangement, as its unusual for an under 14/16 year old to collect younger siblings. Then ours needed it in writing.
Let the school know OP. God forbid an accident happens. It may have just been a one off collection.

Let the school know.

Ours says siblings must be in high school to collect anyone under Yr 6 (pretty easy to track as kids aren't released until staff see the collector, and nearly all older siblings were at this primary themselves).

Like pp said, maybe there's an agreement for this (but you can let them know you've witnessed it being risky) or they have no idea. I don't think it's fair on the 'older' one either way.

Older siblings are allowed to pick up at many of the schools local to us. Different schools have different policies. You can inform school so they can have a word about walking safely if needed.

What do you expect the school to do? They can have an assembly or class talk about road safety, I suppose.

The younger ones will have been 'released' by a teacher.

My dad once nearly ran over a reception child who was getting off the school bus onto the pavement (next to a main road) and accompanied only by his 7 year old sister, who couldn't stop him running into the road.

A taxi driver going the other way stopped and told dad that he'd thought he was about to watch a child die.

Dad sent my then teenage brother who was in the car to escort the very upset children home, as he didn't think he'd be able to control his temper with the parent, and contacted the school and police.

Yes definitely tell the school. They can identify the children from the photo and inform the parents who I am sure would want to know.

Its not at all unusual for senior school children to pick up their siblings from primary where I am. And primary school kids can walk themselves home fron year 6. That said Id mention it just so the school can reiterate road safety and maybe to parents too.

This seems a bit too far the other way. My 17yo was more than capable of collecting her 8 year old sister from school.

I think I'd feel better reporting it, especially with such a little one ending up in the road.

Policies can change. Ours now only lets sibs out to age 14 or older, but it wasn't always that way.

At our local infant school older siblings, who are in secondary school, are allowed to collect children if there has been a letter from the parents.

You can report the road safety issues to the school. They could have a general session on road safety.
If you know names they could have a word with the parent to ensure they follow up in sensible behaviour walking home.

Primary 5 and 6 can walk home themselves at our school, and are allowed with parents permission to take their siblings in lower grades home.

Each school and headmaster sets their own rules.

Let the school know and they can deal with it. It depends on their policy as to whether they allow this, although it doesn’t make it right if the child in charge can’t control the behaviour of the younger children or is immature themselves.

Last September we were walking to primary school behind three y7 boys who were heading to the secondary school, and they started jostling each other. The next thing they were trying to push each other into the road, laughing hysterically, and succeeded in doing so into a busy road causing several cars to swerve. I was going to say something in a friendly manner but thought I’d be told to FO, but I wish I’d reported to the school, and would do if I saw them do it again. That kind of stuff is a tragedy waiting to happen.

genuine question and nor being arrsey or trying to be funny

i home educate so no experience of school culture/rules and 99% of my circle are home ed as well

but once kids are out of the gates what is their behaviour or any issue got to do with the school, wouldn't that be down to the parents-police matter?

i always thought as soon as they leave the head/teachers has no say in their behaviour and cant tell them off

I've seen so many posts saying shall i tell the school or replies saying tell the head ,like the head is the master of everything and in charge 24/7

are schools involved in kids lives that much? or heads have any legal clout so to speak
if this is right boy im glad i home ed

your post should be on the parents for not getting a adult to pick them up

schools are not in charge or kids 24-7 or do they thing they are?

There are two reasons to speak to the school. The main one is that the parents need to know that the older one does not appear to be able to ensure that they walk home safely, and the school will probably be able to identify the family and relay the concern. The other is that the school may want to review their policy on who picks up.

I once nearly ran over a year 6 who scooted into a busy road without looking at all. Fortunately I knew he was scatty so was keeping an eye on him. He was in DD's year, and had I known his parents I would have had a word directly with them; however I didn't, so I had a word with his teacher.

IME it's normal and exactly the right for schools to do to ensure that pupils are taught and reminded about raod safety in school

Its not about schools thinking they are in charge of pupils 24/7, what an unusual way to look at safeguarding

Not every parent teaches their child road safety, would you rather the school shrugged their shoulders and ignored potential dangera?

I've rung a school before about pupils being unsafe on the way home and they thanked me and said they'd remind them, secondary rather than primary but I dont want a child to get run over because I minded my own business

I spoke to school they knew who the children were immediately. I feel I’ve done the right thing.

You have OP. 💐

If they were all walking home sensibly I'd overlook any of the schools rules but this isn't safe. You've done the right thing.

the point is that

• schools are the lead off point for most safeguarding issues - if you see something a little worrying then it makes sense to report it to the school, as they will have much fuller picture - if these kids for example are regularly picked up by a sibling versus if the parent has rung because they're stuck at a hospital appointment and the older child is calling by the school on the way home, they'll know if the kids turn up usually clean, or if this could be another sign of neglect on the list.
• the school will be able to identify the kids and then contact their relevant adults - the OP doesn't know the kids or adults, so can't just get in contact with their parents!
• this happened directly outside the school and is related to school pick up, which the school have ultimate control over who they release the children to.
• Of course the head can tell children off for their behaviours outside of schools - particularly when in uniform or just off of school property - this is compounded for matters which spill over into school like bullying or safety issues.
• The school also have the 'power' to do something about it in terms of a bit of road safety education.