According to an NSPCC spokesman, it is lawful for someone under the age of 16 to pick up a kid from school. You can, however, impose age limitations, such as for babysitters and older siblings picking up students. Make these points explicit in your collecting policy. For example, you could say that babysitters must be at least 17 years old and students cannot be left with siblings under the age of 13.
The law on this issue varies from state to state. But generally, if you are willing to risk losing your license, then a teenager can drop off a student at school. The parent should remain present during pickup so that the driver can be interviewed by a teacher or administrator.
Some states require that only children under 10 may be dropped off at school. Others allow anyone over the age of 14. Find out what the local requirements are so that you don't become an illegal school bus driver.
The decision to allow teenagers to drive students home from school is a personal one. If you feel comfortable dropping kids off late at night, for example, then go for it. Just make sure you include parents in this decision through meetings or phone calls. And if you are worried about safety, consider asking families to provide email addresses or phone numbers where they can be reached after hours.
Children are required by law to attend school until they reach the age of sixteen. Following that, neither parents nor school officials have any legal authority to keep kids from resigning. Some students drop out because they are getting married or have had a kid, while others are anxious to get a jump start on earning a regular wage. Still others believe they can learn more effectively in a non-traditional environment such as a charter school or online courseware.
The desire to quit school comes in many forms. Children may feel like they're learning nothing at all, or may perceive the curriculum as too difficult. They may also feel like they're being forced to stay in school against their will. Sometimes children just don't like their teachers or classmates. Finally, there are those who simply don't get along with their parents -- maybe the parents are pressuring the child to stay in school, or perhaps they just don't agree about what school should be doing for them. No matter the reason, when it comes to quitting school, thoughts of dropping out are almost always negative ones.
If you ask ten twelve-year-olds why they think it's important to go to school, you'll probably get ten different answers. Some children love school and look forward to going every day. Others dislike school but know they'd be in trouble with their parents if they didn't go. Still others feel that school is a necessary evil they must suffer through for a few more years before becoming an adult.
Whatever the cause, the option—the absolutely sound and legal option—of NOT sending your four-year-old to school is relatively obscure and rarely discussed. Local government material frequently makes little (if any) note of the fact that schooling at the age of four is not mandatory. For example, a local authority may state that it is "optional" for children under five to attend school.
In fact, there are no real grounds for objecting to school attendance for four-year-olds. It's a legal requirement for all British children aged between five and eleven. However, as we know, there are many reasons why parents might choose not to send their child to school. If they believe that education is not in their child's best interest, then this should be respected.
Schools are in need of families who will make some effort with their children's education. They cannot function with only half their student body involved in their activities. Therefore, even if you believe that school is not for your young child, you must still let them participate in the system. You can do this by sending them to school each day or paying for a place at a private or special needs school.
If you don't send your child to school, you could be asked by social services why you haven't been getting them into school. They may also ask for permission to check on your child's welfare occasionally.
There is no legal age at which your kid can begin walking to school by themselves, while some schools urge students under the age of eight not to go home alone. But most parents allow their kids to go to school by themselves since it provides them with more time in a day. And even if your child gets into an accident on their way to school, you won't be liable for medical bills or lost wages since the government prohibits discrimination based on age in education.
Here are some advantages and disadvantages of letting your kid walk to school by themselves:
Advantages:
1. It gives your child independence - Letting your child learn how to manage their own safety by going to school alone helps them become more responsible adults. They learn how to take care of themselves and make their own decisions even when things don't always go as planned.
2. It reduces traffic congestion - Since most children today walk to school instead of using cars, this also reduces traffic congestion during morning and afternoon rush hours.
3. It saves money - Not having to hire a driver or pay parking fees each week can save you a lot of cash!