School not letting my child from the school

[Kutika]

I have read numerous discussions where people mention that schools cannot legally prevent a child from leaving, yet I find myself in this exact situation. The school is refusing to allow my child to leave, despite my clear instructions. I've sent an email, filed a complaint with the trust, and even contacted the police, but to my surprise, none of these actions have resolved the issue. I was told by the head teacher that the law does not apply to them. Any ideas on who to contact?

The world has indeed gone mad. Our primary school has decided to prevent even y6 children from walking home alone after years of permitting it. No policy written. No consultation with parents.

School is not childcare.

I don't know of a school that allows a year 5 to walk home alone especially in the autumn and spring terms if they made an exception for one they would have to allow others. Whilst at school they are acting in lo-co parentis and must safeguard the child. Go pick her up

I honestly don't get why you want to, and have, destroy your relationship with the school instead of just organising for your child to be picked up?

You're issuing complaints, calling the police, having meetings with the head... why the desperation to have conflict and to "win"?

Policies and rules aren't always the law.

I agree with the school. A rule is a rule.

Why are the school deciding when a child can leave on their own and not the parent?

Its the parents responsibility to decide what is best for their child within a safety remit - not the school

This is what I am talking about. How they can do this?

School have got a policy on it.

I know schools who don't officially allow but do allow it simply because parents are more bloody minded than them.

But it sounds like there is a policy- albeit an internal one which is possibly not written down. Which is that year 5s can only walk home after April. I assume this is because of the lighter evenings or that the kids are 6 months older. Unless you are saying that you think that other kids in your DDs position are being allowed to walk home alone and it’s just your DD who is being stopped?

Schools are allowed to make rules about these discretionary type decisions- but yes they should be published on the website ideally. That’s why I am suggesting you discuss this with them and come to an arrangement rather complaints/ police which will just waste time and money which will just end up reducing the time that the teachers have to teach.

Do the year 6s get let out without parents?

I do understand they have a duty of care and anything could happen to her but you are the parent.

If she was younger then I would perhaps agree with them but i actively started encouraging my DD to walk short distances independently in year 5 and then allowed her to walk home in year 6, ready for secondary school.

If you have a mum friend in the same class, could they ‘collect’ her and then once she’s handed over let her walk home?

Not in the majority of jobs!

We have a middle school system in our small town . Almost every child walks home from
year 5 without parents . Some get school
bus. I would see if you have free legal advice with your home insurance. Also you need to complain to governors of the school .

Call SS for an uncollected child.

There is no law on the age at which a child can walk home alone. What the school is doing is entirely arbitrary. You could also get a solicitor to write a letter to them, OP.

Whilst at school they are acting in lo-co parentis

The child is leaving school and has permission of the actual parent

It's not about winning is about the school not above the Law. When the distance is minimal and the risk to the child is minimal.

I assume you mean ‘have not’. But they have, clearly. You mentioned it was in a booklet when your DC started at the school. But you don’t really care anyway because you are hooked up on the law. Institutions are free to have their own rules. Don’t like it? Find an institution more to your taste.

Saying they must be obeyed unquestioning implies they are.

Exactly.

You’ve said the school don’t have a policy on this, well they clearly do, they’re not keeping your child for the fun of it are they.

If anything, I’m sure they’d love to be able to, to stop you moaning.

Who won't be interested.

However they won't show the OP and her husband the policy written down.

@Kutika that is about winning. You want to force the school to acquiesce to your request. And it's about money too, as you've said you don't want to pay for the after school club as it's now too expensive. All at the expense of your relationship with the school which is now in absolute tatters.