At what age can I legally leave my child home alone?

At what age can I legally leave my child home alone?

As we are fast approaching the six-week school summer holidays, many working parents will be concerned as to how they plan to juggle work and childcare commitments. Many may be faced with the challenge of deciding whether to leave their children home alone and if they can even legally do this. By the end of 2022 the NSPCC had received more than 21,000 calls in the last four years about unsupervised children, with almost half occurring during the summer holidays.

In England and Wales there is no universal legal age for when a child can be left unsupervised. A universal legal age is impractical as some children have different levels of maturity even if they are the same age. However, it is very much against the law for a child of any age to be left alone it if places them at risk.  Babies and very young children should never be left unattended regardless of whether they are asleep or awake. The general assumption is that children under the age of 12 are rarely mature enough to cope in an emergency and should not be left at home alone for a long period.

The NSPCC goes further and advises against leaving children under 16 alone overnight and reminds parents to consider any additional needs a child may have when deciding whether to leave them at home alone or with an older sibling.

Helen Westerman has been Campaigns Manager at the NSPCC for the last ten years, designing and delivering safeguarding campaigns. Her golden rule is “a child who doesn’t feel comfortable shouldn’t be left alone.” She also points out that parents must also consider if it is safe for their children to play outside without supervision. Westerman added: “Lots of parents will be thinking about whether it’s safe to leave their children at home safely, and if they’re old enough to leave the house unsupervised. This can be a really tricky decision for parents and carers to make as it will differ from child to child.”

There are some key points that every parent should consider when making the decision whether or not to leave their child unsupervised.

1   Are they ready to be left home alone?

Parents should consider how their child might handle being unsupervised, especially in case of emergencies. Will the child behave responsibly and will they remain safe? Does the child know how to deal with risks and how to avoid them? More importantly, parents should also consider how the child feels about the idea of being left alone?

2   Precautions

If a parent is considering leaving a child at home by themselves, parents should be taking precautions like leaving a spare set of keys and ensuring the child has access to food and the bathroom. Parents need to consider if there’s anything that could hurt the child and how the risk of harm can be reduced or prevented.

3   Know the facts if they go out unsupervised

If a parent is considering allowing their child to head out on their own, it is vital the parent is aware of the child’s intended destination, the activities they plan to do, who their child’s companions will be, and the travel distance.  This information should allow the parents to make an informed decision about whether or not their child is ready for this.

4   Make sure they have the right phone numbers

If a parent decides their child is going to be safe if left alone, they should ensure the child has the correct contact number of a parent or carer. The child should also be able to identify a trustworthy adult nearby they can turn to in case of an emergency if staying home alone. If the child is going out alone, the child should know a trusted adult’s full name and address, and have two trusted adults’ phone numbers to hand.

5   Go through different scenarios with the child

Parents should have very early discussions with their child about situations they might encounter and how to stay safe. The parent should be asking the child what their actions would be to different scenarios and how they think they would feel in that moment. For example, if the child is going to be left home alone, they should know what to do if they hurt themselves or if a stranger were to knock at the front door.

6   Establish clear boundaries

The child should be fully aware of the rules that will apply when they are left unsupervised, regardless of whether they are left in the home or if they venture out alone. It is a good idea to agree on some house or outside rules that suit the child’s maturity before they are left alone.

Childcare during the school holidays is tough to navigate and can be made even more stressful if the parents are no longer in a relationship. If you are experiencing issues with your ex-partner over the arrangements for your children, our experienced family solicitors are on hand to assist and advise on all the options available to resolve the dispute. Contact our family law team today to find out more and to book a fixed price initial consultation.

Kerseys Solicitors in Ipswich at [email protected] or telephone 01473 213311 or Kerseys Solicitors in Felixstowe at [email protected] on 01394 834557 or Kerseys Solicitors in Colchester at [email protected] on 01206 584584.