Does this sound ok? School run…

[Mrsupanddown]

I tried to get all the kids in to one school which is 5 minutes from us but the appeal was rejected. So I have left oldest DS at the school and DD is joining him. Youngest DS is at the school nearest to home.

I plan to drop DS (9) at school with DD (8) at 8:35. There school gates don’t open until 8:40.

So they will queue up outside with the other kids and parents. DS will wait until DD goes into her class then he will go to his.

I will be able to drop youngest off then in time for his gates opening at 8:45.

Does this sound ok and safe enough?

We wouldn’t be allowed to do that at our school; parents or someone over 18 has to be there to walk them through the gates. Can you arrange with another parent to take your two in?

I wouldn’t want to leave my kids outside the gate.

Can’t you drop your youngest 5 minutes later? Here our gates open at 8:45 but stay open until 9 so we have a 15
minute window to get them in

No you can’t leave your 8yo in the care of your 9yo. You need to use breakfast club or a childminder or something else.

At their age, it sounds absolutely fine. I was doing this with mine when they were 6 and 7.

We don't all have the luxury of time to stand around waiting for the gates to open, so do what you need to do.
💚

You aren’t leaving them “with other kids and parents” though. You are leaving them alone. Those parents aren’t responsible for your kids. They could all go off and leave in the same way, and you have to act like they weren’t there.

9 yo is too young to be responsible for 8 yo, and both are too young to be left alone outside the school.

Is there no breakfast club?

Wouldn’t be allowed at my son’s school and the headmistress is always on the gate so would notice immediately

It’s not a luxury it’s the absolute bare minimum! Especially aged 6 and 7.

Those saying too young, kids can walk to school age 8 where I live so would be perfectly fine.
I would (and did) do what you are suggesting OP

I think it would be alright as there are two of them, you could always check with the school it's okay. If they say no you could try it because I'm sure they're not going to refuse to let your children in to school but probably safer to send them to breakfast club.
@littlemousebigcheese whats the school reason for that rule especially with 8 and 9 year olds? I can understand with younger children or even for picking up after school but in the morning it sounds excessive

Not allowed at our primaries. You need to arrange childcare or breakfast club

I don’t think you can just leave them - but I almost always take DS to school and would be happy to watch yours for a few minutes. Even if I didn’t really know you it would be fine for me, as long as I knew. Can you ask anyone - someone you know or just someone you see at the gate?

Speak to both schools and see what they suggest, could be older kids can wait at reception for 5-10 mins or that younger one can be 5-10 mins late. What's happening at pick up. I personally wouldn't leave 8 and 9 year old alone. Person suggesting breakfast club is mad as their not gonna let 2 children come in 10 minutes before they finish, it would be too disruptive.

My 9 year old walks to school by herself, if she sets off early and gets there before the gates open then she waits. This is allowed from yr 5 for my school, does yours have a similar rule?

As for the 8 year old - it’s not fair to leave them in the care of the 9 year old but if I was a parent who would have to be there waiting with my own child I wouldn’t mind watching someone else’s through the gate too - is there no friend you can ask to keep an eye on them?

Ours would and did

I think you need to chat with a parent (or two) who would be happy to stay with your children for a few minutes while they wait with theirs.

I'd do it for you, especially if you were the kind to repay the favour, so I could ask you to cover the occasional pick up for me etc.

Do you trust them?
I could have done that with mine no problens. My youngest walked alone in Yr4 (although I had to pick her up)

My son was walking himself to school at 8. He likes being early so he gets there before school starts and plays outside so I don’t see an issue with 2 kids having a few minutes on their own.

I was going to say it would be fine, but it sounds like the rules are different where you are.

A school mum friend was a teacher and had to be at her own school at drop-off time. Once her child was old enough not to need a breakfast club and could make the 5-minute walk on his own, she asked me if I would mind looking out for him each day and sending a quick text to say he had arrived at school safely. It was no issue for me as I was there every single day anyway, rain or shine. I’m sure that there will be other mums/dads in the class who are regularly there early and would be happy to keep an eye on your kids at the school gate for 10 minutes, assuming they’re not tearaways.

I would be more comfortable telling the other school you’ll be 5 minutes late dropping off your other child.

What is the latest you can drop DS2 off at school? Can you not wait with older two until their gates open and then go to the second school? Although, I think your older two should be fine waiting for 5 minutes together, even outside the gate.

This isn't allowed below year 5 at our school, though I suspect that they might not notice if they don't draw attention to themselves as parents don't accompany them through the gate anyway. If it was allowed it would be reasonable safe at this school as there is a large green outside so they wouldn't be waiting anywhere near the road and have to pay attention to the quite frankly shocking driving and parking that goes on.
Saying that, you say DD will be joining him? If she's moving schools anyway would it not make more sense for her to go to youngest DS's school? In which case oldest DS is presumably either already year 5 or will be next year, and that would be fine at most schools.

Our breakfast club does, we get to school about 10 minutes early and I always see people going in at that time..

It probably depends where you live and where the school is. In a city no, in small market town where people look out for each other yes. I would probably ask another mum to keep their eye on them.

If breakfast club or another parent watching them isn’t an option then maybe a phone call? Could you get the 9 year old a really really basic call/ text only phone like the £20 ones, and then drop them off, call his phone before you set off to leave and stay on the phone with him until he goes in? He can hand the phone in to his teacher each morning if they are a phone free school. You at least are in contact then and he can let you know, gates open, I’m going in now love you bye. Gives you reassurance each day they are okay, and they are walking into the gates. Know it’s not ideal but you can’t be in two places at once xx

What year groups are they. If years 4 and 5 then maybe. If 3 and 4 then ours would say no. At ours year 5's can wait on their own and year 6's can walk on their own.

I sometimes had to rush off to work so asked another parent if my child could wait with them. Is this an option?