A charity is urging parents to “think carefully” about whether a child is ready to be left by themselves during the school holidays.
It comes after figures from the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) reveal a 65 per cent rise in the number of reports of concerns from adults in the UK about children being left home alone.
The charity said between April 2023 and March 2024, there were 7,802 contacts from concerned adults about the wellbeing of a child, up from 4,717 over the previous 12 months.
Over half of these contacts (51%) were serious enough for the NSPCC to make a referral to a local agency or service.
The charity says that increased public awareness, higher service capacity and a recent NSPCC helpline marketing campaign may be contributing factors to the increased figure.
While there is no legal minimum age for leaving a child home-alone, it is illegal to leave a child alone if it puts them at risk.
The NSPCC says children should not be left alone below the age of four, even for a few minutes, while those under 12 should not be left alone for extended periods of time.
It also says that a child who does not feel comfortable should never be left home alone, and those who are comfortable should be left with a contact number.
Kam Thandi from the NSPCC said “it is vital that both the child and adult feel comfortable with any decision that is taken”.
For further information, pleas call 0808 800 5000 or email help@NSPCC.org.uk
