Walking home alone from school

[icantlivewithouttea]

Can you help me write an email to my child’s school please? My Yr6 child has been walking home from school on his own since yr 5. He’s now joined a couple of after school clubs which finish at 4.30 but school policy is that children can’t walk home on their own in the winter months after afterschool activities as it’s too dark. So I have to go and pick him up!! My argument is that by December its as dark by 3.15 and the school are fine with kids walking home at that time, so what’s the difference? Also, a bit of a step backwards in teaching independence!

I’m struggling to put my thoughts together - has anyone got any ideas? Thank you!!

I think that this is a difficult one. Would you not be better just asking if they could waive this rule in your case? You would need to say that you have spoken to your child about safety and that you are willing to accept the increased risk of walking in the dark. However, I would maybe think hard about this. It is probably true that there will be more risk of them being hit by a car - is your child wearing high vis on their coat? Is there a reason you can't collect?

My theory. At 3.15 there will be hundreds of pupils and parents about, school crossing patrols, neighbouring schools so the risk is less. A car will be aware it's school kick out time and hopefully drive carefully. Depending on where you live it won't be dark dark. At 4.30 there won't be masses of outpourings of people from schools, drivers will drive normally, your child will be on their own and not highly visible. Plus it will be night-time dark. Are there street lights?

I agree with the school though.
My dc walked, 40 minute walk, from year 3 (with older sibling) but on their own from year 4, but I didn't let them even when light when they had an afterschool club.
It was, as the above answer says, about the numbers of people. At 3:30 there were loads of parents that knew them and would have helped if there's been a problem, and intervened if there was an issue.
At 4:30 there was hardly anyone walking so they'd have been on their own.

Interesting points - thanks for sharing different perspectives.

It’s quite a busy area and the school has a small catchment area - most kids live within a 15 min walk. We live 5 mins away from the school next to a well lit road - so it’s a very short walk for him. I appreciate not all children will have the same journey as him, but I think it should be down to parental choice.

Where do you live that it will be dark at 3:15?

I think the school is being very reasonable. If you want your 10/11 yo to wander around in the dark that's fine, send him out on errands on other days after school or at the weekends.

Unless you live very far north in Scotland, surely it is never really dark at 3.15? It is slightly illogical though that it is safe in the light but not the dark. There have been other threads on here about whether a school can force a parent to pick up. In year 6 it is reasonable to want them to walk home alone IMO.

Explain to the school that your child is very sensible, it's only 5 minutes and they know how to walk in the dark. In addition, buy some reflective strips/key rings, even bag (I got one from Lidl last year, the entire bag is reflective).

Surely it's your decision whether your child can walk home, not the school's? It seems rather overbearing. I am sure a 10 year old is capable of walking 5 minutes along a well lit road. It's 4.30, not 11.30.