Year 6 only allowed to walk home in summer months?

[Clumsy12345]

My son is in year 5 (age 10) in September he will be going into year 6. I mentioned to a teacher that it will be nice when he can come home on his own in September, she looked at me horrified and said “No he can’t! it gets dark early we don’t allow it in the winter months only the summer when it’s light” I already felt like year 6 was a bit late as most schools allow it from year 5 but now it’s only the summer months? aibu to think this is a bit over the top? his school finishes at 3.15 and it’s never dark at that time even in winter. Does anyone else’s school have this rule (for year 6) as that’s the first time i’ve heard it.

I wrote a letter stating I took responsibility for mine travelling home on their own and the school were happy with that.

Year 4.

They can't stop you

There will be loads of posters saying the school can stop you but there is nothing they can do.

This!
I'm Scottish, living in England, and it's crazy.

I mentioned to a teacher that it will be nice when he can come home on his own in September

Is he not “allowed” to walk home now? At age 10? Says who?

It’s not dark in September even slightly. Clocks don’t change until October half term.

I’m pretty sure it isn’t up to the school when parents allow their children to walk to and from school on their own. It’s right to inform them that you plan to allow this just so they’re aware but they don’t get to decide. As far as I know there’s no legal minimum age at all.

If you want him to just tell school. Everyone’s routes are different. August born dc will be expected to get bus home at just 11 from secondary.

It’s ridiculous and doesn’t prepare their pupils for life at secondary school. But if you write a letter to the school saying that you give permission for your son to walk home on his own, the school can’t do anything about it.

Year 3?! Age 7/8? That's mental!

I don't know whether it made a difference that it was a private school but at the primary my two went to they watched every child to a parent and if uncollected would take them to after school & you were charged a late fee.

My daughter and 3 friends attended a ballet class after school that was at the end of the same road as the school. I had to collect them and walk them there.

I'm in Scotland and this isn't my experience. Our school has always been overly involved (in my opinion) and kids aren't allowed to walk home alone at all.

I don't think schools are actually allowed to dictate this, despite what they may claim to the contrary.

Children walk to/from school from about age eight here, but I see even younger children walk alone to the (school) bus stop in the mornings.

My son's school allowed it from the summer term of Y5 with parental permission, but actually they let the kids out into the playground from Y3, unlike YR to Y2 when they had to be released directly to an adult (they did allow secondary aged siblings to collect the children as well - I know that was an issue for a MNer some months ago who was disabled and couldn't get to the school herself, not sure what happened in her case in the end!).

Even if you agree with them that it can be quite dark on a winter's afternoon, I'd have thought it would be fine from February half term rather than Easter. And it is only really a problem if they come out nearer to 4pm and a lot of the kids would have a longish walk home as opposed to leaving at 3.15 and being say 10 minutes away.

Like I said the one mine went to was private but they refused to allow the children to leave until they were collected.

Although the silliest thing I ever experienced was when my son went to a summer activity scheme at our leisure centre between primary and secondary, so he was 11 going on 12. They wouldn't let him leave without me giving them a password.

I understand why you have that with younger children, and why you'd want them signed in and out, but an older child is quite capable of knowing who their mother is!

Private schools are a bit different though as you sign a contract/T&C's that you agree to in order to send your child there.

We are in Scotland so it is starting to get dark by 3.15 in winter however only primary 1 and 2 must be handed over to a parent (so that's reception and yr1) the odd one will walk home in p3 but by p4 (yr3) plenty are walking. It's crazy to think that dc a year off starting high school aren't allowed!

Year 3?! Age 7/8? That's mental!

Ours is y3 too (or was, my youngest is y9 now). They did ask for written conformation rather than just letting them all wonder off. Some are walking with older siblings of course.

Scotland here too, only P1 need dropped off and collected. P1 and P2 finish earlier than the rest by 15 to 30 minutes, but P2 don't need collected.

DS has walked himself home from the start of y5 so was 9. It's a short distance in a dozy neighbourhood. I needed to drive to collect his autistic sibling from secondary school and arrive home 5-10 mins after DS. School had no issue with it; he was not being left for prolonged periods, and I'd be worried if he didn't have the skill to cross the road.

There's plenty enough light even at the end of term as they break up for Christmas.

The road near school would be considerably quieter and safer if fewer parents drove, and if they could be arsed to use the nearby free car parks.
DS doesn't need to cross the road in the chaos zone.

This should not be for schools to dictate at all. If they are not happy with what a family decide, they can report them to SS. It is schools overstepping their remit.

Thanks all im in london so no it doesnt get dark here at 3.15 and he’s never been to after school club which she’s aware of so would be leaving at 3.15. They can stop you as they literally don’t release children unless they see the parent, if the parents don’t collect on time they go to after school club and you are charged for it (never happened to us)

I imagine most parents would just follow the rules in that case rather than be reported.

I would not. It is not up to schools to set ridiculous rules.

Children in other countries walk to/from school at younger ages than that.

Around here it's normal to walk home from Year 4.

I live in a European country and the children walk to and from Kindergarten or even take the bus alone from age 4! It's very strange to see but they do and it's safe. And often the teachers encourage it too.

theswisstimes.ch/the-magic-of-growing-up-in-switzerland/