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?

My sons' school used to encourage parents to do this and didn't like us walking the children right into class. They liked the children to walk in independently after the first few days, if possible.

From a safety aspect, I think its fine. However, even though your 5 year old says he's happy going in on his own, its a shame that he's missing out on an important part of the morning because your 2 year old won't behave.

My kids were only ever taken as far as the school gate and then went the rest of the way to their classroom themselves. What did they miss out on?

It’s fine!!
Our school would welcome this.. they hate parents faffing around the gates

Just one dirty look? Did you have your dressing gown on? Perhaps they just squinted. Or can you mind read? I think you are imaging it.

There are normally road markings outside schools to stop parking/pulling up to drop off. Does yours not have them?

Take no notice of the others. It sounds fine!

Pretty sure you can't park that new school. Is it's time for a map lol

*near

If you're always running late can you organize yourself to get up 10 minutes earlier?

Make life easy for yourself.

ignore the haters.

My daughter's school only allow the kids to leave without a parent in year 6 my daughter is now in year 6 and insists on walking to and from school herself-i don't mind as it's literally a five minute walk down the road and I make her take her phone with her. Other schools may be different though but personally I wouldn't have wanted my kid walking into school themselves at age 5. I mean you are watching him walk in though so I suppose if school are ok with you allowing him to walk in the gates himself whilst you watch then there shouldn't be a problem

That is - excuse my language - absolute bull shit on the insurance point you are making.

When my youngest had only been in reception for about a week one morning I got the the hand with not words. It was clear that I was not required any further so I had to leave her at the gate for her playground. Not quite the same but you get my drift. I could see her and she was fine. It was funny at the time, she did everything her way, even now.

This was my first thought.

I was all set to say yanbu till I read about the parking.
I don't think anyone should park that close to a primary school, it's a huge road safety hazard.

Park substantially further away and strap the toddler into a pushchair. Your life shouldn't be ruled by a toddler (I had a wilful one. I know it's tough. But you have to find strategies to manage not just admit defeat)

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At our school, children of infant age (up to end of year 2) are not allowed to walk in on their own, they have to be escorted by an adult (or much older sibling sometimes) all the way to the classroom, even if you can see it. That’s their policy. If it were me, I’d check with the teacher that there is no similar policy, and ideally go right in a few times a week so they have the chance to speak to you if needed, and then if everyone is happy with it then carry on!

Similar to above posts - have you checked the schools policy on this? At ours, we have to escort onto the playground through the gates and wait at their door with them until the teacher comes out to let them in.

Year 5 students onwards can walk in/leave by themselves provided parent signs a consent form etc.

Every term we get a whole school reminder email about it.

It'll be the parking spot that people are annoyed about. I bet there's been communications about not parking where you do.

She is correct, the post does not state the op has tried walking the two year old only that she has tried carrying and pushchair. The two year old may well not act up at all if walking was attempted

It's fine (unless you've left the car abandoned on the pavement or blocking access etc.)

I think this post kind of reconfirms to me what I already suspected. If you pose something to someone a certain way then it dictates the opinions people have.

To me this reads as: I park right outside school and am often late with my 5 year old. Other people stare at me, why? I think most of us are annoyed by the people that park that closely to school aren’t we? Especially the ones that are always a bit late because they’re usually going a bit too fast. If these people also know you live a 5 minute walk away then I think it’s almost nailed on that it’s the parking and being late that they’re judging you for and not the child walking in alone. I’m making some assumptions there but I’ve got 4 children and have been doing a school run for over 20 years so I feel qualified.

Just ignore them? If you’re doing nothing illegal, just accept that they’re going to judge you and that’s that. A bit like going in your PJ’s, commit to it lol.

Exactly this.

You are often running late but still manage to get the only parking space that is a few feet from the gate.

Maybe the comments are about your parking and time-keeping.

And I get how difficult it can be to get out of the house on a morning with uncooperative kids but I'm not buying your description of the situation.

They have to be escorted right up to the classroom door until they are 9 years old?! Have you ever asked why? Is the school in a particularly dangerous area? City centre, lots of traffic maybe.

That seems crazy to me. Where I live kids walk to and from school by themselves from the age of 7. It's really interesting how much this varies depending on location.