Leaving school alone

[Ruth2005]

What age do you let a child leave school alone . My child is nearly 9 and in year 4 . Is that acceptable to walk 5 mins crossin no roads on a familiar route . School don't approve

Dd has done it since y5. Short journey but 3 busy roads to cross.

I never thought to ask the school.

Our school is year 5 with parents permission. My DS was one of the few who did last year.

8 is still quite young.
Mine had to be yr5-6.

Thank you I'm maybe expecting to much it was more for my child benefit to give them some independence . I stil have to go to school to pick my other one up just trying to gradually get more independence

We did it for DS 10 for the last term of year 5. No roads to cross and a short walk. Maybe year 4 is a bit young still

My eldest started occasionally walking home alone in Y5. Like you , I still had to go to school to collect younger child. From Y6 & Y4 the both walked to and from school without me, under strict instructions to stay together. Several roads to cross, some zebras, some pelicans, some without anything.

OTOH in Y4 I was walking to and from school alone every day, also with several roads to cross.

My godson school encourages this from year 4 so I would say if you are happy with him doing it then carry on

You can do independence in your own time, e.g. by walking to local shop alone.

If you have to go there anyway, can you take ownership of child and then let them walk on ahead of you ?

Children can be very good at crossing roads safely - until they are chatting to friends.

Obviously depends on route, and child, but yes, my youngest dc certainly did this from Yr 4 - not all the time, but every now and then.