How old was your child when they started walking to school alone?

[indigo27]

My daughter is starting year 5 in September- she is one of the eldest in her year and will be 10 in October. She's very mature and I trust her.
She is desperate to start walking herself to school as it's very close but I am terrified at the concept!!
What age did your children start walking by themselves?

Half way through yr 5 for mine

Year 6 for mine but only because of covid restrictions the school enforced parental drop off/pick up until recently... plus he's a bit' head in the clouds' boy - young for his year group. Maybe start off with walking home - I panic if they walk in alone and don't turn up no one will notice! Plus I gradually let him walk further, meeting 3/4 of the way, then half way, and so on. It's a huge step but once they do it a couple of times it becomes totally normal. Throw out some 'test' questions - what would you do if's... and check their road sense as you walk with them. Assume she has a phone? Though mine know they are in big trouble if I (or anyone I know) ever see them walking along looking at their phones!

13! (because he moved school to one close enough to cycle to, his previous school was 8 miles away so I had to drive him.

Walking to/from school was not allowed at the dc’s primary.

DC1 started walking to school occasionally with his friend half way through year 4, he was 8/9yo. No parents, just the two of them. He's in year 5, almost 10yo now and walks to and from school alone most days. We live a 2 minute walk from the school.

Age 7 & 9 they regularly walked themselves there. Less than 10 minute walk, I had an eye on them across the only road as they left the house. It's a friendly community and I know there are a lot of parents walking up with younger children - there would be generally people about if any problem. It was Scottish P4 & P6.

Generally my kids seem to have been out independently lots earlier than the mumsnet average. They were allowed to the park with friends at a similar age. We are in a mid-sized town.

Year 5 when he was 9. Just over a mile, 2 main roads with zebras.

Year 5. Ten minute walk, one busy road.

Start of Y5, it's only a 4 minute walk.

My eldest didn't have to at primary as I was there collecting his brother. Youngest started when they went back after Covid, towards the end of Y5 x

so i guess you men from september ?
that sound ok.
how about a few practice runs, where your daughter takes you to school, as it were, ie she is the lead officer.
so often when we always do something with another, even as adults, we do not pay attention as to the details, where, what , when.
she'll be ok. try not to worry.

Year 7 so age 11, would have done a year earlier but he's not loaded with common sense middle child I might allow a year before he has more common sense.

8 or 9.
A short walk, no big roads.

Start of y5, so 9. It's only 0.5 mile away and although it's over a main road, there's a crossing so it's fine.

Our primary school wouldn't allow it until partway through Y5.

Agree with pp to start with coming home alone.

About 8 year 4 l think. Was a straight road with one zebra crossing.

Although they had to picked up until year 5.

Start of y5, also an October birthday.

It isn't allowed until year 6 here.

Start of year 6. He was 10. Our school doesn't allow it until year 6, although pretty sure no school has the authority to dictate like that. I went along with it to avoid hassle, but it bothered me!

Mine will be both 7&8 when I start considering it. It's a 5 minute walk down an open path. No roads to cross. Tonnes of parents and children everywhere. My 4 year old could do it now and would if she was allowed.

Summer term of Year 4 - 1 stop on the bus.

I will live in a 3 tier system area and the children start walking to first school by themselves in the last half term in preparation for going to middle school.

Might be worth checking what the school allows? I think it was from year 6 at my nieces school x

Alone....I would say 12 is the earliest!

Or maybe its just me, because I live near Croydon.

12. That was only because I had to have foot surgery and couldn't drive for a few weeks. After those few weeks I felt she was fine though and now at 15 she will stay out after school with friends too, has to be back for tea time though and straight home when the darker days come.