OT: Times change

No lollipop man/woman?

I had one.

Mind you I did get run over on zebra crossing whilst she was stood there in the middle of it holding the stop sign.

When I was 13, I would catch a train to London KX from Hull and wander around London all day trainspotting on my own. When I was 17 and in work I would walk around the record shops in Rotterdam on my own.

Its usually only the reception class that uses a rule they must ensure the child gets to the intended parent.

Unless things have changed very recently.............

Chocolate was still rationed until just before I left primary. Walked with sister to school from 41/2. Only one road to cross and much less traffic then. Managed to avoid school bus smoking by cycling to secondary. 7 miles:-(

Let's hope he supports them all financially.

Q11

The one I know charges £40/hour to look after an uncollected child after school, but that depends on someone being available to supervise, and after an hour they are likely to be handed over to social services if they have been unable to contact a parent to arrange someone to collect them.

The school can assess a child as suitable for self-transportation. That requires that the child is a minimum age (I think 9) and of sufficient maturity, and going to an address with a suitable parent or guardian at home, and depends on the mode of transport. At some later age (maybe 11), the requirement for a suitable parent or guardian at home can be relaxed, but again depending on their maturity of the child.

A child under 12 coming to harm (or found to be at a risk of doing so) as a result of not being under the supervision of a parent, guardian, or school, can result in prosecution of whoever is considered to have been responsible for the welfare of the child at the time.

Social Services would be closed by the time the teachers, (would have to be two as you should never be alone with a pupil), had driven the

If Cumbria's child safeguarding services keep office hours (despite their statutory duties) then the school phones the police.

And I don't see the need for 2 teachers in a taxi. (I did mention "at the parent's cost".)

Just pointing out that glib "take child to Social Services" is not a particulary useful or easy thing to do in many places in the country.

And waits an hour for them to turn up...

Taxi? I think there are two but at school chucking out time they'll be busy taking kids home up to an hour away...

Aged 8 I would walk half a mile each way twice a day.

I did get knocked down by a large motor coach. People had been agitating for a lollipop man at that spot for ages. Ther is still someone there every day; they owe their job to me!

Trained to pick locks at an early age...

Heh. The doors were never locked. It's how it was then.

I was expected by the school authorities to walk miles to school on my own at age 5 down roads with no pavement or verge to walk on where truckers frequently drove criminally, endangering the lives of all in the area. My parents rightly refused.

NT

"Too much of a risk."

The school would scoff at such a suggestion. When the bell rings the staff car park is like the start of a Formula One race.

Self defence wouldn't help against an adult abductor. The area isn't dangerous; it's rural and respectable. No immigrants.

Bill

I've been there though. Given the choice of living in London or living in a s*it-strewn public lavatory in Cleethorpes I'd chose the latter.

Bill

Yes. It's one of the last remaining areas clear of filth. Interpret that word how you like.

Bill

We'll never get the truth about this affair.

Bill

I suggested that but it won't do apparently. His sister won't guarantee to stay in. It's against her 'uman rights apparently.

Bill

Not a chance.

"Too risky."

We have a good laugh, me and him. The other week his dad fell asleep in the chair so the boy wrote S*IT on his forehead in indelible pen. Fabulous!

Bill