Childcare for older child?

[whattodo5]

Just wanted to know wwyd in this situation?

Would you let a just turned 13 year old who is slightly immature for their age and is lacking common sense/doesn't make the right choices sometimes stay home alone for 2.5-3 hours each day? Parent works an hour away without traffic, there are no relatives or friends near by and neighbours are either too elderly or not often home. There is also no after school provisions.

Do you live in a university town, or have contacts with a sixth form? When out kids got too old for childminders, and just wanted to be able to chill at home while I was working (not wanting always to be in activities) we advertised through the uni and had two lovely students who met them from school and kept them company. It felt right all round: older children didn't feel patronised/ babysat, and the students liked having afternoon work that fitted in with their timetables.

We paid our student a tenner an hour. (Cash in hand)