Rules on children walking home from school

cannyscot_2

I guess it depends where you live but here in Scotland we don't have any such rules and it would certainly be unenforceable. The parental right in the scottush education act is paramount. The only thing they could do is refer you to social services if they felt there was a problem.


My child is 9 and I would think it outrageous that I could not make the decision as his mother that he should walk 10 mins by himself. I don't think the world is a better safer place while we mollicoddle children. All the evidence is that children need to be given responsibility in a controlled environment ie no roads, mum expecting him in 10 mins etc . I am afraid I probably couldn't accept it as it goes against the grain for me. Vey soon we will have a world of spoilt children who do not know or understand how to take resonsibility for themselves.

I'm glad you found a way round it !

poly1

This website http://www.walktoschool.org.uk/get-involved/parents/faqs/ might help you?

cannyscot_2

poly1 wrote: »

This website http://www.walktoschool.org.uk/get-involved/parents/faqs/ might help you?

That is a great link and also covers school holidays etc in the guidance -must bookmark it as I'm sure this topic will keep coming up.

FBaby

I woul definitely contact the lea. Surely if such a rule is inforceable, it should come from them rather than the individual school. I'm very surprised by it. My school is very health and safety conscious, yet from Y3 children get out of their classroom on their own and it's up to the parents to be there or not. I don't know any Y3 who walk home on their own, but many Y4 do. Excepting Y5 to wait for their parents to be picked up is ridiculous.

Mrs_L

I think that it should be left up to the parents. We know our children. It would also depends on the type of environment that the child has to walk through. If there are lots of fast roads then I think at 9 I would have thought twice, but at that age I walked my son to the school bus but would allow him to walk the 5 min walk home from the bus stop.

Spendless

Mine went to seperate infant and junior schools. At Infants an adult had to take child into school and be matched up with them at the end of the day. Juniors have no such rule. My yr 3 child walks to and from school with her yr 6 brother. I live 2 mins from a school gate but across a road.

I notice you put that in yr 6 the school will allow him to go to and from by self. Personally I always preferred my kids to learn to do these things when the lighter nights came, so around easter time onwards, than them doing them for the 1st time in the Autumn term when darker nights are setting in, and worse weather conditions, eg fog. Perhaps this is a point you could raise with the school?

YORKSHIRELASS

I would be annoyed if I was you. As far as I am concerned when the school day ends my children are my responsibility and if I decide to let them walk home alone then thats my choice. My son is in year 5 and walks the short distance to catch the school bus on his own, and has done for quite a while. He also comes home on his own from the bus after school (I am always at home keeping an eye out for him). My son asked if he could do this and I agreed, he is very sensible and I think its important that he starts to have some independence. He is also allowed out on his own after school to call for a friend who lives around the corner and to play out in the village.

Its a very difficult one but I dont believe in wrapping kids up in cotton wool too much - and I believe that parents know their own kids better than anyone and should be allowed to make the choice. We live in a rural village which means my kids have had a bit more of an old fashioned childhood (climbing trees, building dens etc) but there are still risks. Its up to the parents to assess those risks and decide how much freedom to allow their children as far as I am concerned.

Another thought that came to mind is that our school tell us that once children leave their premises and get onto the school bus they are no longer the responsibility of the school. I remember this from when there were problems with the behaviour of a couple of kids on the school bus.

Jinx

You know I am soooooooo glad my daughter is now 19 because I would be a nightmare for schools now. What is the point in trying to be a responsible parent when clearly we are not intelligent enough to decide when we can take our kids out of school, whether they are sensible enough to walk home on their own or heaven forbid give a treat in a lunchbox.....

Schools are meant to act 'in loco parentis'; ie when the parents cannot be there. However if the parent makes their wishes known in writing then I think the school should respect this (unless breaking the law obviously). My child was always my responsibility and I would not take kindly to them going against my wishes.... (rant over lol)

vharbourne

wow makes me realize how wrapped up in cotton wool i was, first time i walked home from school (about a 15-20min walk) was at 15 and when i was late my mom phoned the school and then drove and came looking for me lol

louise3965

omg where do you live? Helmund Province?

My dd is 10, in year 6 and has walked home since September. They have to learn to do it in prep for senior school, its madness not to prepare them properly.