We have made these changes to the Walking Home Policy as we wish to improve the safety of the children and pedestrians. As you’re aware, the paths on Grange Road are narrow and easily congested. This is worse at the end of the day with parents and carers waiting to meet their children. The congested paths increase risk, causing pedestrians to step onto the road which is busy with traffic. We have the added factor that adults and our older children can be looking at their phones, therefore decreasing awareness of their surroundings. In addition, drivers can flout the highway code and pull up on the zigzag lines, double yellow lines and even attempt a 3-point turn on Grange Road by the school entrance.

To reiterate, these changes are to improve the safety of the children and pedestrians.

The main changes to the walking home policy are as follows:

• All children need to be collected from the school playground unless they are in Year 5 or Year 6 and written consent has been provided that they can travel home alone.
• No child in Year 5 or 6 will be allowed to leave the school playground without an authorised adult or authorised person over 14 (e.g. sibling), unless written permission has been provided for them to travel home alone.
• There is no longer the option to meet your child at the top of the school drive. The options are meet your child in the playground or provide permission to travel home independently (Year 5 and Year 6 only).
• Children in Years 5 and 6 that travel to school independently by bike must wear a helmet.

The NSPCC provides guidance on this topic, providing sensible risk assessment questions, ensuring that your child understands what to do in an emergency.

Current Year 4 and Year 5 parents/carers - If you wish to complete the Travelling Home Independently form, here’s the link.

10.09.2025 Update

Dear Parents and Carers,

We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your ongoing support in helping us maintain a safe and orderly environment during school drop-off and pick-up times.

It has recently come to our attention that some parents are completing the Walking and Travelling Home Independently permission form in order to meet their child at the top of the school drive.

We’d like to gently remind all families that the original purpose of this form was to allow children who are ready to walk home independently to do so safely with your permission. For those not yet ready for this level of independence, we kindly ask that parents continue to meet their child on the school playground.

This approach was introduced to help reduce congestion on the pavement along Grange Road, particularly near the school entrance, and to improve safety for all pedestrians, including our children, the school crossing patrol, and drivers.

We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in helping us maintain a safer environment for everyone. Please do consider the original purpose of the form before completing the form. 

Thank you for your continued support.

Warm regards,

Sarah Carrington