Exact age you can leave your children at home during February half-term

Many families look forward to the half-term holidays as a time to spend quality time together. Most schools are set to break up next week, from February 16 to February 20.

But for some parents, work commitments or unexpected situations can make childcare difficult. When that happens, questions often arise about whether children can be left at home alone – but the legal position in the UK is not always clear-cut. The Government stresses that the decision varies for every child, but there are clear guidelines in place to help steer parents.

The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) very clearly states that children under 12 are rarely mature enough to be left alone for long periods of time. They suggested always leaving them in childcare or with family.

So, once a child goes to secondary school, the ambiguity begins. UK law does not specify an age at which a child is ready to be left alone at home, because this varies greatly depending on individual circumstances.

However, it stressed that parents can be prosecuted if they leave a child unsupervised “in a manner likely to cause unnecessary suffering or injury to health”.

Parents’ discretion on the matter is absolutely key. It urged guardians to use their judgment on how mature or ready their child is before deciding to leave them alone, for example, at home or in a car.

The NSPCC encouraged parents to talk to their child about their concerns about being left alone. It said they should never leave them if either they or the child does not feel ready.

It added: “Just because your child is older doesn’t necessarily mean they’re 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.”

When both parties feel ready, it recommended developing a safety plan for different scenarios, no matter how unlikely they may seem, such as what to do in an accidental fire or burglary.

It also suggested agreeing on what the child will do while left alone and ensuring they are safe online. Keeping in touch was also key.

“Even if your child is older and has been left home alone before, you should still check in once every few hours, particularly if you’re out late,” it added.