The charity has outlined some factors for parents to consider when making the decision
News Ryan Price 17:41, 02 Apr 2025Updated 17:42, 02 Apr 2025
The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) has issued advice for parents who may be struggling with the decision of whether or not to let their children walk to and from school.
As the days start to get longer and the weather improves, the temptation grows to let your child get some fresh air into their lungs before they sit in a classroom for several hours.
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The stretch in the evenings means many kids will be racing home to toss their bag into the hallway before running out again to play with neighbours or have a kickabout.
Coming to a decision on whether or not it's safe to let your kid make their own way to and from school is not an easy one, especially when there is so much objectivity and nuance surrounding what age it's appropriate.
The NSPCC has now published some guidance for parents who have this question.
"There’s no legal age that your child can travel home from school alone – this is up to you and your best judgement, or your school’s rules and policies," their website states. "However, you should never leave a child alone who isn’t ready or is unable to care for themselves.
"Every child is different – but some schools advise children under eight shouldn't walk home without an adult or older sibling.
"If you and your child do feel they’re ready to come home alone, it helps to go over some rules about staying safe," they added.
The practices they recommend running through with your child are as follows:
- Make sure they know their address and your telephone number by heart, in case they get lost or have to navigate home from somewhere new.
- If they have a mobile phone, remind them to fully charge it before leaving the house, and make sure they have all your contact numbers saved.
- Talk to them about road safety. They should always look both ways before crossing the street, and never be on their phone whilst crossing a road.
- Remind them never to accept a lift from someone they don’t know, or let a stranger into the house. They should never give personal information away – in real life or online.
- Remind them that if they feel unsafe or uncomfortable at any time, they can call you or a trusted adult.
- If they ever feel like they’re in immediate danger, they should call the police straight away on 999.
A thread on the popular parenting forum, Mumsnet, from 2022 poses the question: "What age do you let your children walk to school alone?".
The post received 62 replies, with many mothers agreeing that the summer term of Year 5 (ages 9 to 10) is typically a suitable time to allow your kid to start experiencing this rite of passage, providing you feel they are ready.
A user by the name of SauvignonGrower wrote: "Summer term year 5 is common where we are. Certainly all the year 6 like to walk with friends."
A user with the handle ShowOfHands argued that Year 6 is a more appropriate juncture. "Year 6 here and it's a 15 minute walk," she wrote. "One village road but a blind bend.
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"I don't worry about the traffic, I worry that DS is hot headed and impulsive. I genuinely worry that he'd end up going to the park instead or when grumpy, just won't go to school. He starts y6 in September and I don't know whether I'll let him."
SartresSoul commented: "Year 5, I don’t think many schools would let them walk alone before this. It’s common from year 5 in my child’s school and virtually zero year 6’s travel home with parents."
NSPCC
