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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

What age to leave school without an adult?

24 replies

ChasingSquirrels · 06/09/2010 21:39

DS1 has just gone into yr 3 (8yo at the end of the month) and I would be happy for him to walk home on his own if he wanted.

As it happens, ds2 is just starting reception so I will be there to pick him up anyway but round the other side of the school.

Asked today if it will be ok for ds1 to be let out and come round to the reception class and was told that they need eye contact with the relevant adult.

Doesn't really matter, as I'll be there for ds2 anyway, but just wondered at what age most schools let them out without an adult?

I know I was walking home on my own by the juniors.

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pinayangel0912 · 06/09/2010 21:41

to be honest i think year 3 in still to young imo... I think i was year 5.. most schools in my area london southwark prefer for them to be in year 6...

massivemammaries · 06/09/2010 21:43

My daughter is in year 3 and walks down across the playing field to the infants

snice · 06/09/2010 21:43

At my childrens school infants are sent out to a known adult but juniors (so from yr 3 onwards) are just sent out through the main entrance

seeker · 06/09/2010 21:44

It's year 5 at our school - I think that's typical.

LunarSea · 06/09/2010 21:50

Ours stopped checking they were picked up from year 3. ds (just starting yr 4, although he's the oldest in his year) now takes himself in - about a 10 minute walk - most days. Last year we allowed him to take himself from school to the local tennis club (1/4 mile, only one tiny cul de sac to cross) after school twice a week. This term he'll probably be allowed to bring himself home, at least until the clocks change.

mankyscotslass · 06/09/2010 21:53

They won't let them even walk from the Junior gate to the infant gate on their own in YR3.

DS1 is in YR4 now, and keen to do it this year, but school may not let him. I need to check, because he would love to come meet me in the infant playground.

maktaitai · 06/09/2010 21:56

Blimey. Once your children are into Yr 1 in ds's school, it's up to you. I'm not ready for ds to start going home on his own (he's just started yr 2) but if he wants to next year, I think that's fine.

NickOfTime · 06/09/2010 21:57

in uk - yr3.
here - they've never checked to my knowledge. sometimes i'm a few minutes late and dd2 (6) is happily playing on the swings. i assume someone would check the playground before they lock up if i'd had an accident on the way...

MumInBeds · 06/09/2010 21:57

I have a ds just gone to secondary and a dd just started a juniors (so Y3). When ds was in J3 they were allowed to leave by themselves but now the school have said not until Y5.

JustGettingByMum · 06/09/2010 21:58

Ours are allowed out of the class and into the playground in Y3, but are only allowed to leave the school if the parents have sent in a letter giving their permission first.For us, it's Y5 before they are allowed out without any permission letters.

Incidentally, in our school Reception finishes 5 minutes earlier to allow time for parents to walk round to the main playground and pick up older siblings. Maybe something for school to consider if they won't let DS1 walk round to you?

muggglewump · 06/09/2010 22:00

DD walked to school and back with friends from P3 so 7yr old.

I'm fine with it, it's the norm here.

Original poster

ChasingSquirrels · 06/09/2010 22:01

so, yr 3 is probably "on the cusp".

The area obviously matters - what might be appropriate in a small village with next to no traffic and a single road cross wouldn't be appropriate in other areas, more heavily traffic-ed areas.

He sometimes goes most of the way home alone anyway after I have collected him as ds2 wants to go one way which is easier for me to help him on his bike, and ds1 wants to go the more direct route.

However, although I would be happy for him to come home alone, he wouldn't actually be doing so as I would be collecting ds2 from another exit.

If he has an after-school club then it would be useful for him to come home alone as I wouldn't be there then for ds2, although thinking aloud on that it will be getting dark by 4pm soon and I wouldn't want him walking home in the dark on his own yet.

Interesting on the variations at different schools.

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Original poster

ChasingSquirrels · 06/09/2010 22:01

oh, walking round isn't an issue - it will only take me a minute, it is a very small school!

OP posts:

fruitful · 06/09/2010 22:50

If you have requested, in writing, that the school let him go without seeing you, I don't see that they can refuse, really.

Around here they go to middle school in yr5 (and hence have to walk by themselves if they have younger siblings at the infant school). So in yr 4 we all start practicing letting go of them. School needs a letter before they'll let them go though.

CarGirl · 06/09/2010 23:00

Our school still want them collected from the classroom door in year 4 at the moment - argh, drives me insane. They can't walk home because the roads are too dangerous for them to cross themselves.

Not sure when/how they are supposed to learn any sense of responsibility for themselves.......

moajab · 06/09/2010 23:18

It's Year 5 here, but from Yr 3 the kids are let out into the playground to find their parents for themselves and can walk round to the Infants door.

Clary · 07/09/2010 01:09

My DC go to inf and junior schools (separate schools) and the juniors let the kids out on their own, ie they have no idea if there is an adult there.

So, 7yo. Most (all?) yr 3 kids are picked up. My DD started walking home at end of yr 4, age 9, with her 11yo yr 6 brother.

He has left the school now so she will be coming home on her own (yr 5). It's fine IMO.
I also think yr suggestion for yr DS is totally fine. School being a bit daft tbh. He's hardly undertaking a 3-mile trek home across open roads is he?

ShellingPeas · 07/09/2010 10:55

Just moved DD to a new school, but at previous one they stopped checking for parents at Year 3/Juniors.

At the new school they are supposed to be 9 years old, so 'let loose' at some point in Year 4. You have to provide a signed letter to the school authorising release without an adult.

NoahAndTheWhale · 07/09/2010 11:03

In our school the form for after school clubs came home yesterday and there was a part to sign to say you were happy for your year 5 or year 6 child to go home on their own.

Not sure how coming out of school works for year 3 and year 4 as they come out of a different entrance from the infants (DS only in year 2). I know that juniors can go to after school club on their own (infants collected from classrooms) so presume they can come to infant playground.

TheInvisibleManDidIt · 07/09/2010 11:14

Ds's school only checks for an adult picking the children up in p1.

My 2 have walked home without me occasionally since last year, so they were p3 & p6 (7 & 9). Although several children in the school live around us so there's up to 8 of them walking together, and theres always 2 or more parents with them.

domesticsluttery · 07/09/2010 11:41

DS1+2 were allowed to walk home together without an adult last year if DD was ill, they were in Yrs 1 and 2.

DS1 is now in Yr 3 and I would be perfectly happy for him to walk home without me, many of his classmates do. We live in a quiet rural village though and he doesn't have to cross any busy roads or anything.

memoo · 07/09/2010 11:52

The school can't actually enforce any rules about wether you pick your child up or let them walk home alone, they can express a preference but they certainly can't enforce it.

GypsyMoth · 07/09/2010 11:57

eye contact with an adult??

doesnt work......ds just walks out,teacher leads kids to edge of playground,but in the scrum,could just walk off.....or go with anyone.

he sometimes comes home with a sister,they are 14 and 16.....school have no idea!this has been since yr 1

he now walks to school (yr3) in the morning (2 small roads). he seems more competent than his brother at this age too

NoahAndTheWhale · 07/09/2010 13:26

To be honest DS (year 2) could get to school fine on his own - very nearby and only one small road to cross. But as DD is in reception I am there anyway.

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