Letting a 14 year old Take a 7 year old to and from school

FBaby

The school breakfast club my kids used to go to were very strict about only being able to be dropped off and picked up by an adult. The staff claimed it was nothing to do with them or the school but the rules of the council.

What is odd though is that the school holiday club my son now goes to (different town but same council) allow children 8 years and older to come and leave on their own!!

tyllwyd

My worry wouldn't be so much whether the girls can make the journey, if they are both sensible and get on well, but whether it is a long-term solution? It's fine on days when they are both going to school, but would you or your OH be able to cover on days when the older one isn't going to school - when she's ill, has TD days etc, school trips? If she is 14, I'm guessing she is going into year 10, which is fine, but when she gets into her GCSE year there might be more disruptions like after school revision sessions and when she gets to exams, she won't be following the normal school day for several months. Then there is sixth form or whatever she decides to do. If you are looking beyond this year, and your OH isn't able to cover the bus journey, it might be easier to move your younger daughter now if there is a school in walking distance.

Spendless

valk_scot wrote: »

We don't do Infants, Junior etc in Scotland so I'm not quite sure of the ages you mean here, but up till the end of Primary 2 here (that's age 7, more or less) the teachers did as you describe, though it was perfectly acceptable to let the younger child go into the care of an older sibling of 10 or 11, like mine. I don't know how old the collecting sibling had to be, I don't think our local council (they're almost all council run in Scotland, very few private schools) had a policy on it.

I do think restricting pick up to a 16 year old or over is utterly daft tbh, it must really mess up a parent's life to be trailing up and down to the school twice a day when they've got a competent older child in the same building who could do it. But how about drop off? Do the school care about the over 16 rule here, or are they merely covering their own backs when releasing the child?

There's mainly Primary schools here too, but Infants are Reception to yr 2 (age 4/5 -7) and Juniors yr 3-yr6 (age 7/8 -11). At the infants I used a parent (or adult) took them into class, they didn't line up in the playground. Again this was different when mine moved to the Junior school (the 2 schools are on same premises)

FBaby wrote: »

The school breakfast club my kids used to go to were very strict about only being able to be dropped off and picked up by an adult. The staff claimed it was nothing to do with them or the school but the rules of the council.

What is odd though is that the school holiday club my son now goes to (different town but same council) allow children 8 years and older to come and leave on their own!!

I have a similar situation. The wrap around care on the school premises only allows adults to pick up, so my 13yo can't pick up his 10yo sister from there if I am running late. When the Sports club run a holiday sports camp at school though children can make their own way to and from.

elisamoose

moomoomama27 wrote: »

Check the school policy also, at my youngest twos primary schhol, only people over the age of 16 are allowed to collect children from school.

As far as I am aware there is guidance for schools regarding KS1 children.They can be brought by siblings but school can only let them go with an over 16 year old , if that person is on the list of pick ups held by the school.Parents can only give permission for KS2 children to walk home alone , not for them to take younger ones home. This is how it is at the school I work at and as far as I am aware it is DFES guidance.

Edit....have looked but found nothing on DFES website.

marisco_2

I don't think there is any problem at all with your 14 year old taking her 7 year old sister to and from school. It is a journey she is clearly familiar with and as you say there are no major roads to cross. The timings of each child's school day fits in with the other to make this option feasible.

The only thing I would take into consideration, is if by doing this does your older child miss out on being able to attend after school clubs, that she may otherwise have enjoyed. If not then I would say go for it.

Gigglepig

OP just a thought, do you have a contingency plan for when the eldest is sick/on school trips or for other reasons can't take the youngest?

themull1

loobylou2 wrote: »

Thanks again for all the replies everyone. They are very much appreciated. I think it is more likely to be a case of DD1 dropping DD2 off in the mornings as Dad will more than likely pick her up in the afternoons if DD1 has activities she wants to go to, if the worst were to happen she would be able to stay at school until I collected her after work which is also another option. I'm trying to avoid her having to spend too long at after school clubs and breakfast clubs though because having attended the after school club on the odd occasion before I know she's not keen on the idea. Breakfast club would just be for three quarters of an hour every day. Its a case of trying to keep everyone happy I'm afraid and so I've explained to her that she might have to compromise and go to breakfast and after school clubs even if she doesn't want to because another option would be to change school. Which is something I know she really does not want to do!!!! I don't think there would be any problem with the breakfast club and her being dropped off by her big sister, she's attended the odd session with them after school before and all 3 of my children have been pupils at the same school over the last decade so know the staff and I already keep an emergency taxi fund. DD1 wouldn't be bringing her or taking her on alternate Wednesdays anyway because with the hours I work I can do that and also I would be able to collect her every Friday afternoon as well .

If she doesnt want to go to breakfast club etc why cant her dad just take her on the bus to arrive at her school on time, bit of a waste of money going to a breakfast club when you dont have to?

princessdon

My 12 year old picks up my 7 and 9 yr old. I'm home 5-10 mins after them worst case.

I'd not let my 16 yr old nephew pick them up, it's not age, its circs. Your OH is home he can ring if late, get a taxi, beg a neighbour etc. it's personal based on many factors

Brekkie club isn't a choice, if needs must, tough!