DD's mate's mum out all night again

[Jux]

leaving her daughter (dd's mate) alone at home - all night.

On previous occasions this has happened it's been on a Friday or a Saturday or both and we have had her (not that we were asked).

Last week, after 2 w/e on the trot where the girl stayed both nights, it left dd so exhausted that she could hardly stay awake at school, hardly get up in the morning and left her so run down that by Wednesday she was down with a cold and ended up missing 2 days of school.

Having got her rested this w/e and ready for school tomorrow, her friend came round for lunch today and has just told me her mum will be out this evening and will be staying at her boyfriend's tonight. Leaving the child alone again.

She is 12 (just) - y7. She apparently gets spooked and scared on her own at home.

I have thought before that the girls were trying it on. However, I have no way of knowing. I don't know the mum at all though I would recognise her if I saw her.

DD must get back on top of things. Her school days are much longer than her friend's - they go to different schools - and she gets so knackered. It's a really bad idea to let her start the week like this.

I just don't know what to do. DH is dozing and I can't get his attention, though earlier we had agreed that if we were asked we would say no with no argument.

Would you assume that said child's mum knows best whether it's OK to leave her dd at home alone or not? I've suggested phoning her mum and talking to her direct, but the girl said she'd text her. Though she is apparently at her bloke's in village we know usually doesn't get a signal, or only very rarely.

Ah well, I am definitely being avoided! Still no closer to talking to the mum. The child stays here every Friday night and is sent home sometime on Saturday - this last w/e quite early, about 3, as dd had another friend coming over who needed to spend time with dd alone.

This w/e was slightly different as two girls whom we don't know turned up claiming to be friends of the friend iyswim. DH let them in and sent them upstairs, I was on the phone and didn't even see them! When I went up to see who they were and to tell the friend she had to go now, they were quite rude and when they all came downstairs they were even worse so I kicked all 3 out without compunction. Expected dd's friend to come over again on Sunday (she often does) but no sign of her. She'll be round on Friday again I'm sure.

I haven't contacted SS but have spoken to the school. They have told me to leave things in their hands so I shall continue to allow her to stay on Fridays, send her home on Saturdays and not allow her friends (who are not dd's friends) in.

It felt like we were a community resource at one point on Saturday!

Thanks for your advice everyone. I hope you're all OK with what I've done. If I do ever get to talk to the mum I shall certainly let you all know.