From what age can you leave child alone in the playground before school?

[meadowquark]

DS1 is in Y2, I am thinking ahead for Junior years. If I could leave him at the school playground 8.35 and run to work, that would save me a lot of faff of driving him to a breakfast club (in a different setting). The school starts at 8:55. Supervising teacher is from 8:45. The area is relatively safe, London zone 4 if that makes any difference. I am confident that my DS1 will survive and even learn some valuable independency skills.. on the other hand everyone on MN seems to be overprotective and I am not sure if it is legally allowed.

We are not allowed in the playground until ten minutes before the doors open. Only year 5 and 6 are allowed to and from school unaccompanied (once parents have signed a permission form).

"Only year 5 and 6 are allowed to and from school unaccompanied (once parents have signed a permission form)."

It isn't up to the school. They are only in loco parentis during school hours, or additional times if they agree to it. Before and after school, it is not for them to dictate what arrangements parents make. If parents feel it is safe to send children to and from school unaccompanied from a younger age, the school cannot stop them.

I can certainly understand the need for permission to be given in writing so it is clear whose responsibility it is.

OP, there is no specific law preventing you from dropping your child off without supervision. However, school might refuse to allow him onto school premises early if they are concerned about being held liable for accidents.

You could drop him off outside the gate, however, when you decide he is old enough that that is safe.

It might be worth going past the school at your intended dropoff time to check out the situation: if there are lots of kids, or lots of kids+parents there already, then it may feel safer.

Get DC to walk, then they will get there at a supervised time. Loads of others will be walking so drop yours off with them! Problem solved.

"maybe ask his teacher if he can help set up the classroom for 10 minutes in the mornings ?"

You're suggesting that the teacher effectively minds the child for free? Along with a torrent of other kids, once word gets out? I don't think so.

"maybe ask his teacher if he can help set up the classroom for 10 minutes in the mornings ?" I missed that statement clam

I'm not sure parents realise many teachers have meetings before school; we have two whole school staff briefing meetings a week. I also meet with staff from other agencies and sometimes parents. I may need to pop to the office to photocopy something, make a quick phonecall, follow up something with a colleague, the head or a member of the office staff, take the opportunity to go to the toilet before the onslaught of the day which means I'll be luck to get to one again before hometime ... None of which can really be done whilst child-minding. There is no way we can leave them un-supervised in the classroom. So it isn't just getting books and pencils off the classroom shelf, find the register and make the classroom look tidy.

At my DCs school they could be left after 8:30 for a 8:40 start, before that they had to go to Breakfast club. But it was pretty informal and lots of children went to school by themselves from year 3.
You could put a message in the newsletter (or whatever) seeing if someone is willing to take him into school, this shouldn't cost much.

Doesn't he have any playdates? I'd be more worried about that personally.

Our doors open at 8.45 but have parents drop kids off in grounds before 8am-even though they're asked not to as kids aren't supervised. One of the Y6 children fell over and broke her wrist a few weeks ago and she had to wait -alone, in tears outside until she could attract the attention of the school caretaker! He was the only person in/around the building and was wearing headphones so didn't hear the bell!!! Turns out that her dad had an early meeting and she'd been there since 7.20am!!

At my children's school the yard opens with teachers from 8.30pm and we have to leave the children at the gate to the playground as they have a no public in the playground policy - so from reception age upwards. Breakfast club is from 8- 8.30 and then all the BC kids go into the yard too.

I don't think we have a rule
Teachers on playgrounds from 8.40 and always plenty of children there with & without parents, there are 3 different points for dropping off at my school so I guess the older dc are left even if parents are still on site there's nearly 500 children so not easy to track parent down

I have no idea, a friend asked me to look after her DS in the playground once when she had to rush off to work, but I don't know what the school rules are. DD's in year 2.

Bath - that would be totally normal in my circle of friends. Can't see the problem.

being dropped of by an aunt, gran, cousin or friend is all the same. Doesn't matter as long as there's a responsible adult.

DD yr5 takes DS yr3 and DD (reception)

I drop 50 meters from the school gate and watch them walk down and through the gate. DS stands in his line, DD walks small DD to reception, puts her in class then goes to her own class.

I doubt this will be approved of here though!

Never asked if it was 'allowed' but started leaving mine once they were in key stage 2.