Letting 15 year old Son travel to Europe by rail

What a fuss. Surely Soc Services, who allegedly are run off their feet as it is, have lots of better things to do?

I've just done another year volunteering to talk to would-be medical students, who come from all round the planet to get a grounding in what a doctor's life would be like, if they actually go down that route.

They range from 12 to about 17, and have often come vast distances, Oz, USA, China, India, S America, just about anywhere if they have expressed an interest, and their parents can pay of course. So far as I can tell, they travel alone, but are in chaperoned groups once here for their fortnight of classes.

And they all seem to manage fine. As has been said, that age has shy withdrawn kids, and confident outgoing ones (just like adults), but I daresay that if he was in the quiet, shy group, he wouldn't have been going anyway.

KA may be irritating to some, but she's not daft, and can surely assess her own son OK?

I recall as an 11-yr-old being sent on a journey every day that involved a 15 minute trudge to the station, then a half hour on a train, and a 10 minute walk to school, then doing it all again to get home. And I was a painfully shy little person at that age, but nobody thought anything of it back then.

25Avalon

I don’t understand why a file has to be kept open until the person is 25. They could be married with 2 kids by then. Can anyone explain please?

The rule for many cases is age 18 plus six years, taking the person to just under 25. This is where there is a risk of a child becoming a ‘vulnerable adult’. The file is technically closed unless further complaints are received within the time frame.

25Avalon

I don’t understand why a file has to be kept open until the person is 25. They could be married with 2 kids by then. Can anyone explain please?

Because they can remain in education until they are 25 if they have SEND and the whole system works off the same framework whether it’s child protection or SEND

How was knife crime in those days?

Nan0

Youth hostels in these cities..I went youth hostelling at 16 in the UK

I went on a Grand Tour of England and Wales when I was 15 with another 15 year old and a 16 year old on our bikes, staying at Youth Hostels!
No mobile phones in those days. In fact, my parents didn't have a landline either.

rbannocks

Utter media storm without substance. Do not people realise that in many placed in Europe 7 year olds take themselves on public transport to school often involving train and bus journies. Its only outsiders who visit and are shocked by this. This says more about the UK and its culture than about Kirstie Allsop.

I remember hearing about a six year old Japanese boy years ago; he took himself off across the city on the Tokyo subway each day to get to school.

I don’t understand why a file has to be kept open until the person is 25. They could be married with 2 kids by then. Can anyone explain please?

Massive rise in knife crime. Increase in crime levels across Europe. Only the unimaginative could think it's fine for a 15 year old to travel these days.

I think middle class people treat their kids differently to us working class people, I mean look at the McCanns , leaving their toddlers in an apartment on their own 😩

Galaxy

Social services will have contacted her because someone reported her, they're obliged to investigate, which in this case will I imagine involve asking a couple of questions.
There is no way I can comment without bias as she drives me up the wall.

She’s actually been told that a file has been opened and her responses to questioning recorded. If there are any more complaints they will want to visit her at home for interview. That file potentially won’t be closed until her son is 25.

Utter media storm without substance. Do not people realise that in many placed in Europe 7 year olds take themselves on public transport to school often involving train and bus journies. Its only outsiders who visit and are shocked by this. This says more about the UK and its culture than about Kirstie Allsop.

That coukd have happened to him whilst he was chaperoned

Speaking of which, Reece Mogg has said that the busy bodies who reported KA should boil their own heads.

There are a lot of comments saying KA knows her son best and should be left to make the decision about his abilities. That may be true, but believe it or not, parents do not always make the best judgments or act in their children’s best interests, which is why we have legislation and authorities to implement that legislation.

Do people think it should be a general rule that these decisions should always be left to parents, without interference from the state? Or only some parents, and if so, which ones? Maybe just the posh ones who can shout the loudest.

Knife crime is up by about three quarters in the last decade.

Why the nasty remarks about Kirstie Allsopp.? ~You may not like her but dont use this thread to be downright bitchy.
Aveline , what are the risks and dangers that didn't exist before ? I think you could find that what is different is the amount of coverage on social media of "things "I do agree that if the child in question is mature then why shouldn't he travel with his friend. I don't know the child , but I presume his mother does.

Norah

Perhaps over reaction, here on GN, because KA is smug and snotty, has no actual talent - however, Social work team did their work properly.

I think she enjoys being provocative

Kirstie knows her son - we don’t.I also hope that he had a great time and if I were in her shoes I would also be furious.

Perhaps over reaction, here on GN, because KA is smug and snotty, has no actual talent - however, Social work team did their work properly.

EmilyHarburn

A storm in a tea cup.

100% agree.

I would not be happy if my 15 nearly 16 yr old grandson went off around Europe with a friend, I don’t think it’s safe.

Things are very different now. All sorts of risks and dangers that just didn't exist before.

Youth hostels in these cities..I went youth hostelling at 16 in the UK

thinking of the adult and old people recently dying abroad and in the news,,, I think as Emily says, a storm in a teacup!

A storm in a tea cup.