older children picking up younger children from school

[BITCAT]

My eldest is 13 this yr and his younger sister loves it when he picks them up its rare because he is usually at school. The school seem to have a problem with it. And when can older siblings babysit legally??

I don't see anything wrong with that, Bitcat. I used to bring my 6 and 5 year old brother home when I was 9. Admittedly there were no busy roads to cross.

I don't think there is a legal age lower limit for babysitting BUT if you leave a child in the charge of a minor AND something does happen, there could be questions asked of you.

I don't think there's a legal age limit; I seem to have a vague notion that you can't legally employ a babysitter until they are 14 but that might be wrong or out of date info.

I do know that teachers tend to hate it when siblings pick up younger children - but then not all of us have the luxury of a non-working parent who is free at pick-up time, or grandparents, or whatever!

I think a 13-year-old is perfectly capable of accompanying a younger child home safely.

i was thinking about 14..but he wouldnt be made to, he would be asked and paid for it. No busy roads to cross here. There is one very minor road..n the rest is a path all the way home through a housing estate where lots of other parents and children are walking. I also have a 9yo dd and almost 8yo ds that was with him also. And same here i used to walk my 4 sisters home everynite after school. School have said they have to imform safeguarding..its ridiculous...i feel i have no rights to decide what is safe for my kids

In the French school ds went to for a while there was a sign up saying if older siblings were collecting younger siblings from maternelle (3-6yo) they must be at least 8 years old. So bit more relaxed then!

My sister and I used to walk a couple of miles to school down rural lanes - no pavements, but very few cars... aged 9 & 7.

If your ds is trustworthy I can see no problem at all.

he can be silly at times but in these situations and where small children and babies are concerned he is fab and sensible. And he and my dd have a great bond he absolutely loves her to bits very protective and she holds his hand on way home. I dont know y they seem to want to wrap um in cotton wool these days..its an irrational fear and a little responsibility does them good. He does on rare occassions..as he is usually at school himself and doesnt usually get home till 330.

Thank you all for your comments!!