Our Helpline has seen a 65% increase in adult concerns about children being left home alone

Last year, our Helpline supported over 7,800 contacts where concerns about a child being left home alone or unsupervised was mentioned, with more than half of contacts resulting in a referral to a local authority.

Between April 2023 and March 2024, our NSPCC Helpline, which provides help and advice for adults with concerns about the wellbeing of a child, received 7,802 contacts on the subject of a child being left home alone, compared to 4,717 contacts over the previous 12 months.

The increase in the number of contacts on this issue to our Helpline could be due to a number of factors, including a recent NSPCC Helpline marketing campaign, increased service capacity and greater public awareness about the risks of leaving children home alone.

More than half of these contacts (51%) on children being left home alone were deemed serious enough for our Helpline to make a referral to a local authority with a view to further action being taken.

One adult contacted the Helpline with a concern about their neighbour, saying:

“It’s two little girls I’m worried about, they must be about 4 and 6; they’re left home alone quite a lot and that means they’re unsupervised with the family’s dogs.

I’ve knocked a few times to see if they’re ok and they always say, ‘daddy will be back soon’ but it’s usually hours later when one of the parents comes back.”

With schools in England breaking up this week, many adults might feel unsure about whether their child is ready to be left unsupervised or have concerns about another child being left alone.

For many parents, July and August can be particularly difficult as they are forced to balance the competing pressures of work and childcare. These challenges are likely to be even more acute this year as the cost-of-living crisis continues, forcing some parents and carers to work increased hours or take part-time jobs.

There is no legal age limit for leaving children home alone, but we would not recommend leaving any child under the age of 12 at home unsupervised, especially for extended periods of time.

A child who expresses concern about being left alone should never be without a parent or carer and for those young people who do feel comfortable, it's vital they're left with contact numbers for a parent, carer or trusted adult. Long periods of being unsupervised can lead to children feeling afraid or neglected.

One young person aged 14 told Childline:

“I’m sick of being left on my own, mum expects me to just look after myself.

There isn’t always food I can cook, I can’t go and see my friends or do anything fun, but she can.”

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Kam Thandi, Head of the NSPCC’s Helpline said:

“It can be hard for parents and carers to know the right age to leave their child home alone as every child is different, and the first time being left unsupervised will differ for every family.

It is vital that both the child and adult feel comfortable with any decision that is taken, and that if a young person is to be left home alone they know how to contact a trusted adult and what to do in an emergency.

For anyone who may need advice or is concerned about a child who might be at risk, our Helpline service can support you and the NSPCC website has a range of tips.”

Adults with concerns about a child can contact the NSPCC Helpline by calling 0808 800 5000, emailing help@NSPCC.org.uk or completing our report abuse online form.

Childline is available for young people via the phone on 0800 1111 and online where there is a 121 chat on the Childline website.

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Our Helpline has seen a 65% increase in adult concerns about children being left home alone

Quiz: Is your child ready to be home or go out alone?

Contact our Press Office

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