Is it unreasonable to let my five-year-old walk in school alone?

[DinoNuggetsRUs]

Just wanting some opinions as I got a really dirty look this morning and one of my 5 year olds school friends parents was clearly whispering to another parent about what I’d done.
So I park pretty much right outside the school gates, and my 5 year olds classroom is in view of the gates. The door is around 7foot away from them.
I have a very spicy almost 2 year old who screams and fights bloody murder when I carry him to drop 5 year old at his classroom door. Kicking and screaming. So I have to get the pram out of the car, put him in it to restrain him, walk 12 foot to his classroom, then back to the car with a screaming toddler. So the past two days, I’ve been getting out of the car, leaving 1 year old in the car, standing next to it and watching my 5 year walk to his classroom door. He walks about 5 foot from my car to the gate, which has fences blocking it from the road and then around 7 foot to his classroom door and I can see him the whole way through the railings. Honestly is this neglectful? He’s completely happy doing it but now I’m second guessing whether he’s too young?

I think it's absolutely fine, you can even see him the whole time. What could go wrong?!

I think it sounds fine. You are very close to him all the time. Could you be parked in an awkward spot, and that's what the strange looks are about ?

I don’t see a problem with that. Ignore the other people - you’ve found a solution that works for you.

actually thinking about it, this could be it - and also the fact that I’m usually running at the last minute due to said almost 2 year old.

Is the child year one or reception?

odd to be able to park right outside of school gates. All of the schools in my area have zig zag lines in that area

Most schools have no parking zones immediately outside the gates, so maybe that's why they are giving you dirty looks? Maybe park further away, might feel like it makes the palaver with the pushchair more worthwhile.

Yeah are you parked somewhere where it isn’t allowed/could be dangerous for other kids like on the zig zags or something?

It’s probably because of where you are parking rather than the 5 year old walking alone.

It’s more likely that you are parked on the zig zags or otherwise in a place you shouldn’t be. Does he have to cross the road?

I don't know any schools around where I am where you can park directly outside the gate so I would imagine the talking and dirty looks from other parents are because of where you are parked not because your watching your child into the classroom.

Year one, there’s a shop right next door which has parking bays, and cause I’m always cutting it fine, I can usually get a spot. If I can’t, then I will get the little one in the pram for definite.

Yes, it’s possibly inconvenient and dangerous/illegal(?) parking that’s the issue. Our school is constantly sending reminders about not parking by the school gates.

You will be completely flamed for not carrying your 5 year old into school and hovering around them , taking off their coat and watching them as they sit at their desk. However in my eyes the fact he is happy to do what he does shows a strong sense of security and growing independence. Whilst those who fret over every footstep will still be making their beds and packed lunches when they’re in Y13 .

The shops parking isn’t for school drop off. Park further away and use the buggy

Yes, sorry, it’s your parking that’s getting the dirty looks! Everyone will be getting emails from the Head soon about not parking in front of the school.

Sorry, crossed posts with the op. Fair enough then.

Theres a rule at the kids school that infant children have to be walked to their class by an adult but if that’s not the case at yours and you can see your child then crack on.

It's parking for the shop customers not for school drop offs that's probably what they were talking about.

I'm not saying whether you are right or wrong on this but when my kids were at primary school the school insisted that a parent or responsible adult take the child through the main gate and wait until teaching staff arrived to let the kids in at the start time.
The school didn't do it to be difficult but because they are not 'in loco parentis' until the official school day start time and teachers let the kids into class. Technically, a school isn't insured for your child until official start time or when a child crosses a school threshold as in for breakfast club.

At our primary there were a small handful of foreign national families who sent their kids to school either alone or with a slightly older sibling from reception age, presumably because in several other counties this is the expected norm. One of them came across town by bus too. The other parents were generally disapproving of this.
When I was young it was very normal in this country too though.

Well I let my 5 year old get the bus to school and our school doesnt let parents in the playground so everyone gets dropped at the gate. And many kids walk to school from age 5 alone where I live.

So I really cant see what you've done wrong.

But some parts of England have a very different culture to the rest of the world.

I’m surprised you can get that close to the gate in the car - parking so close to the gate at any of the schools near me would definitely get some comments because they’re all yellow zigzag no parking sections. Is there a teacher manning the gate?

edit - have cross posted and see you’re parking by a shop

The parking right near the gate in the shops parking bays

Perhaps the shop have previously complained to the school about parents using the parking for the shop in this way. Does the school make any comment abbot parent parking etiquette or suggested parking places? The school my children go to has detailed advice that they send out at the start of each term and whenever people park stupidly or otherwise annoy the local neighbours.

Screaming toddlers are hell, so you have my sympathies, but yes I think at that age they still need to be escorted to their teacher.

Good grief! One wonders how the human race has survived this long. I used to walk a mile to school with my cousin (one year older than me) when I was five. My own kids walked the five minutes to school on their own (including crossing a road with a lollipop lady) from a similar age. And now the average five year old is considered so vulnerable that they can’t walk a few feet while being watched by a parent without scandal. How bloody ridiculous! Of course the OP isn’t doing anything wrong.