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Original poster

Walking home from school alone

7 replies

Sarahm38 · 03/05/2019 14:53

Just want to hear peoples views really my son wants to start walking to school when he is in year 6 he will be 11 (as one of the eldest in year ) we live 2 miles from school we normally walk this route so he knows where he is going etc not really many big roads to cross mainly smaller roads?

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GassyAss · 03/05/2019 14:59

It’s pretty standard for Year six to walk to school if it’s near. They have to get to used to making their own way before going to high school.
We started with DD getting her to walk one way and we’d come get her from school. We Co-opted a nearby friend when they first started walking independently so neither where in their end own. It worked really well for our children.

sugarbum · 03/05/2019 15:00

I don't see a problem. Is there anyone he can walk with? That would be preferable, but I think that's plenty old enough to prepare for secondary.

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Sarahm38 · 03/05/2019 15:02

Thank you no theres not really anyone he could walk with as all his friends live near school we moved 12 months ago into bigger house and didnt want to move kids school i will still have to get my daughter to school who will be in year 4 is just so scary letting them go out alone 😭

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sugarbum · 03/05/2019 15:09

It is scary, and its probably scarier for you than it is for them! The fear will wear off, but it will take time.
I started letting my 12 year old walk home along middle of Y5 (but it was really close to where we lived) and then to walk around town with friends (as in our town, which is not a town centre kind of town, more like a village)
Since he started Y7, he's been getting the train to school and walking for 15 minutes. I no longer have the fear about that, as long as he sticks to the route everyone else takes.

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Sarahm38 · 03/05/2019 15:13

Yeah he doesnt seem to have any fear at all lol and is quite excited to do it he is quite sensible when out so hopefully he will be ok dreading the day my daughter will have to do the same 🙁

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modgepodge · 03/05/2019 15:14

If you have to take your younger child anyway, can you suggest he sets off 5 mins in front if you? Then if theres any issue you won’t be far behind, and you can check he’s got there safely when you arrive. Likewise on the way home?

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Sarahm38 · 03/05/2019 15:16

Yeah we will prob have to do this as like i say i have to take my daughter anyway i just wanted to kind of give him the freedom slightly but its hard to find the right balance for what age etc

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