Home Alone; How old for child?

4Chickens

Hi
I need some advice. My son is 12 years old and in secondary school. He gets home from school at 3.30pm and I get home from work at 5.10pm. Effectively he is home alone for just over an hour and a half. I telephone him from work at 3.30pm to check on him.

Last night he told me that his school mini bus driver and escort had told him that it is illegal for him to be home alone until he is 14 years old and that if the police etc were informed then I would be in trouble (he did'nt specify to what degree).

I was listening to a programme on Radio 2 some months ago on this subject or similar and I am almost sure that there was no age specific legislation involving this.

If there is anyone out there who can advise it would be most welcome.

Jay-Jay_4

Have a look at this thread

It's a discussion on the same subject from a few months ago.

Savvy_Sue

You mention a school minibus driver and escort. Does this mean he has special needs of some kind? It's just I've never known an escort on a 'normal' school service, but maybe they're particularly rowdy!

4Chickens

Savvy Sue

My son goes to a special school because he has dyslexia and asperger's syndrome. He is mature and knows how to use the phone and knows the 'house rules'. He has been coming 'home alone' since September and so far there have been no problems at all.

Do you think I am doing the right thing? And is the bus 'escort' and driver correct in what they are saying?

Bendybops19

Thats fine for a 12yr old, if he is happy with it and is responsible, you dont have anything to worry about.
You cant get in trouble for it, children younger than that are often left at home, although i think younger than 12 is probably too young.

Mint1955

The law is 14. Nothing will be done except a slapped wrist if he is fine and nothing happenseven if someone shops you.

But if there is an incident then you can be prosecuted. We have the problem that my stepchildren are with us so we have to do everything by the book or BM will take us back to court etc so we had to get the solicitor to tell us all the laws and rules etc.

4Chickens

OK Thanks for everyone's input.
I looked on the previous thread on this subject and went to the NSPCC website. There opening statement is this:
'There is no law that states the minimum age that a child can be left alone. However it is an offence to leave a child alone when doing so puts him or her at risk.'

It then goes on to offer some guidance. Having read it all now, I am happy that I am not breaking the law and that my son is at no risk by being left at home for a period of one and a half hour on school days. He is happy with the situation and both my husband and me are happy.

The comment the bus driver and escort made worried my son more than they did me or my husband and for that I am a little annoyed at them.

Again Thanks Everyone

culpepper

Well I know this is a bit off topic but over the years,the amount of people who have told us it is against the law to home educate is amazing.
We know the law and quote it to them which leaves them cowed.
If your son knows the law and perhaps can state the NSPCC has a website which clarifies things I think that will shut them up. If he is a bit shy about speaking up,you could print out the relevant bit from their site so he can just hand it to them.

Bossyboots

The thing is, although there may not be a law, there is a standard.

When my friend needed to go back to work they asked social services what was the minimum age her children could be left. She was only proposing leaving them for 30 minutes until hubby got home. My friend was told that there is no specific law but if a child under the age of 14 was involved in an "incident" when no adult was present they would investigate and if appropriate prosecute. They advised her not to take the risk.

deedee_3

Flippin' 'eck how times change. I'm 40 this year with a 3 year old and one on the way but when I was 12 I was babysitting other peoples kids. Are the government interfering too much one wonders or is it because there has been a lot of accidents that they have interfered?

bethscott1970

Dunno deedee but I used to walk myself to school and home at 5. My parents both worked so the key was left next door and I had to let myself in and was alone for about 2 hours til mum got home. Mind you she had me trained well, the casserole for tea was prepared in the morning and the oven temp set and my job was to flick the switch as soon as I got in. Got a hiding in 1977 cos I was so excited by getting a jubilee mug from school I forgot (my memory is not that good I just remember the mug, I was 6 at the time)