With regards supervision and wrapping in cotton wool, I agree completely that lots of parents are OTT. In Wells Park a while back, I saw a couple totally freak because their daughter (who looked 4-5) was standing on a wall that can't have been more than 10" tall. Even had she fallen off it, I very much doubt that she could have done any damage. This is obviously going a bit OTT. However, I still believe that a 5 year old (whether with an 8 year old or not) should not be cycling to school. I was given quite a long leash by my parents when I was a kid, I walked to school from about 7 (only a 5-10 minute walk), I played out on my bike / skateboard with other local kids, and never had any complaints about my mum not letting me do stuff. However, I am bloody sure that I would have cycled to school aged 5 over my mum's dead body! I also feel that it is putting a lot of pressure on the 8 year old. If something did happen, and the 8 year old saw the 5 year old get hit by a car. They are tyhen expected to keep calm, call 999, administer first aid? Thety are 8, and should not be burdened that way. That is basically my opinion in the cold light of a calmer day.