The law on leaving your child on their own and if it's ok to leave them with older siblings

With the summer holidays in full swing, parents are being reminded of the law on leaving their children at home alone.

Many families may be wondering if there is a specific age when a child can be left alone. Or if older siblings can be left to look after younger children.

In the UK, the law does not actually specify an age when you can leave a child on their own. However it is an offence to leave a child alone if it places them at risk.

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The Government says: "Parents can be prosecuted if they leave a child unsupervised ‘in a manner likely to cause unnecessary suffering or injury to health’." Mums and dads are asked to use their judgement on how mature a child is before deciding to leave them alone, for example at home or in a car.

Meanwhile, the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) says children under 12 are rarely mature enough to be left alone for a long period of time. Those under 16 should not be left alone overnight, and babies, toddlers and very young children should never be left alone.

The charity says on its website: "A child who isn't old enough or who doesn't feel comfortable should never be left home alone. If this is the case, it's best to look into childcare options that might work for your family. There's no legal age a child can be left home alone, but it’s against the law to leave a child alone if it puts them at risk."

At what age can a child be left home alone?

The NSPCC says: "You might wonder what age your child should be before they can be left alone at home. But there's no 'one-size-fits all' answer. Every child is different, so build up their independence at their pace – and check in with them to make sure they feel safe."

The charity has the following guidelines:

Babies and toddlers - Infants and young children aged 0-3 should never be left alone - even for 15 minutes while you pop down the road. This applies not just to leaving them home alone but also in your car while you run into the shops.

Primary school children - While every child is different, the NSPCC doesn't recommend leaving a child under 12-years-old home alone, particularly for longer periods of time. Children in primary school aged 6-12 are usually too young to walk home from school alone, babysit or cook for themselves without adult supervision.

Secondary school children - Once your child reaches this age, you could talk to them about how they'd feel if they were left alone at home. Whether they're 12-years-old or almost 18, there might be reasons that they don't feel safe in the house alone. Just because your child is older doesn't necessarily mean they are ready to look after themselves or know what to do in an emergency. It can help to go over the ground rules and remind them how to stay safe at home, the NSPCC says.

Leaving a child alone with siblings

According to the NSPCC: "If your child has an older sibling or step-sibling, you might feel more comfortable leaving them home together, especially if one child is older. There’s no legal age a child can babysit – but if you leave your children with someone who’s under 16 you’re still responsible for their wellbeing.

"You should also think carefully about leaving your child alone with an older brother or sister. If they fall out, you won’t be around to make the peace."

Before leaving older siblings in charge, think about the following points:

• Consider how well your children get on. Do they fight when you aren't there? Are they able to resolve a conflict between them peacefully?
• Talk to your older child before leaving them in charge. Ask if they feel comfortable looking after their younger brother or sister alone. You shouldn't leave them in charge if they don't feel comfortable.
• Does one of your children have complex needs? Think carefully about whether your child needs adult supervision, in case something goes wrong and they need support.
• Agree some house rules.
• Check your older child knows what to do in an emergency. And come up with a safety plan for them to follow when you aren't there.
• Leave them a list of contact numbers. Include all your contact numbers, friends or family members, any trusted neighbours and the emergency services.
• Do a trial run. Try leaving them together for a short period of time, while you're still close by, and build this up over time.
• Plan some activities for them to do while you're out. Both you and your children might feel more comfortable if they're focused on an activity – like watching a film or playing a board game.