BRITS are gearing up for the Easter holidays and while this is a hard-earned rest for anyone who works in a school, it can make things difficult for parents who don’t get the time off.
Many will be forced to try and find childcare if their kids aren’t old enough to be left at home alone.
Which poses the question – at what age can you legally leave children at home on their own in England?
There currently isn’t any law that states an exact age when a child can be left at home alone.
However, it is an offence to leave a youngster alone if it places them at risk – and you can be fined or sent to jail if caught.
This is because it is a crime to leave a child unsupervised “in a manner likely to cause unnecessary suffering or injury to health“.
According to advice issued by the UK government, parents should “use their judgement” to determine how mature their child is before leaving them alone.
The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) has also shared its recommendations.
It says that children under the age of 12 are rarely mature enough to be left alone for a long period of time.
Children under 16 years of age should not be left alone in a property overnight.
In addition, babies, toddlers and very young children should never be left alone.
It might be hard for a parent to decide if they think their child is mature enough to handle being left in the house on their own.
This is because each child’s maturity level will be different and it will vary from person to person – even if they are the same age.
So to help parents make the best choice, Helen Westerman from the NSPCC said they should consider two main things.
This includes how they feel about their children playing outside unsupervised, and also how their child feels about it themselves.
Speaking to Liverpool Echo, she said: “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.
WHAT TO CONSIDER
HELEN has said that parents should consider these six things if they are deciding to leave their child home alone.
1. Are they prepared to be left home alone? – Think about how your child would handle an emergency situation if they are home alone. Helen says: “Think about if they can deal with risks, will they behave responsibly, will they be safe?”
2. Undertake prudent measures – Think about the key steps that you would need to take to make sure your child has everything they need, like spare keys and access to food and a bathroom.
3. Never leave babies or toddlers on their own
4. Be in the know about their unsupervised outings – When your child is out on their own, make sure you know where they are going, who they are with, what they are doing and how far they’re travelling.
5. Share essential contact info – Helen says: “Make sure they know a trusted adult’s full name and address, and have two trusted adults’ phone numbers.”
6. Prepare your child – Make sure your child knows how to handle different situations. Helen advises: “Ask them what they’d do if they hurt themselves or if a stranger knocks on the door.”
“As well as determining if a child is ready to be left alone, many parents will also find balancing work with the school break quite challenging, especially considering the rising child costs and the cost of living crisis, which is placing additional strain on families.
“As children get older, it’s common for them to want more freedom and learn to be independent.
“This is an important part of growing up, but we know there can be a lot to think about for parents.
“As every child is different, we recommend building up their independence at their pace and checking in with them to make sure they feel safe.”
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