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Original poster

Is it OK for a Yr7 pupil to be home alone for an hour after school?

125 replies

Pipsquiggle · 17/04/2023 17:28

Trying to sort out my childcare from Sept onwards.

At the moment I pay quite a lot of money for wrap around care for my 2DC - long story, but they currently go to different primary schools, one of which didn't have any breakfast or afterschool clubs. Both DH & I work FT

My eldest starts secondary school in Sept. They will take the train. They will get back at 4:30ish each day. We will get in usually around 5pm-5:30pm. Would it be OK for him to be on his own for this amount of time? Is it the done thing? They are usually pretty sensible.

I am thinking this will be a couple of times a week, as they will probably join some form of clubs / societies.

OP posts:
SheilaFentiman · 17/04/2023 18:12

Mine did this occasionally from summer term in year 5 and for most of year 6.They are pretty mature, we were happy.

Lapland123 · 17/04/2023 18:14

Home is safer than train!

LuckySantangelo35 · 17/04/2023 18:14

@Pipsquiggle

absolutely fine

why on earth does your husband think they need to go to homework club??!

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Hubblebubble · 17/04/2023 18:15

The fact that secondary school doesn't offer wrap around suggests it's OK. The nspcc have a list of things to go through with your child before leaving them home for brief periods of time. Like a previous poster mentioned, what to do if the door goes, who to contact in an emergency.

Hubblebubble · 17/04/2023 18:16

I used to work for an hour after school doing a paper round, but I think that's a thing of the past.

CeliaNorth · 17/04/2023 18:16

it is not ideal as it can be lonely/boring/worrying for them doing that every day.

It's only an hour! By the time he's changed out of uniform, got himself a snack, vegged out in front of the tv for a bit or looked at his homework, OP will be home.

clary · 17/04/2023 18:17

As long as your DC are happy then it is fine. Are they left alone now for short periods (10-15 mins to start)? Do they go to the local shop or park on their own? If not, that's a good place to start and I would do it now.

TheMarsian · 17/04/2023 18:18

You’ll struggle to find childcare for a Y7 tbh…
The expectation is that they can look after themselves including during all the hols, for the whole day….

Lolacat1234 · 17/04/2023 18:19

My son has his own key and lets himself out in the morning and comes home on his own for an hour or so on the days I'm in the office. He's a sensible lad and has been fine x

CombatBarbie · 17/04/2023 18:20

It's fairly standard at that age. If he can get a train I think he's more than capable of being home alone for an hour or so.

Has he never been left in the house whilst you've nipped to the shops or doctors or round a neighbours for a cuppa??

Cordeliathecat · 17/04/2023 18:20

If he is travelling home with friends then you’ll probably be surprised how long it takes him to get home. My daughter is a 20 min walk away from her school, yet it can take her up to an hour to get home by the time she’s chatted to everyone, stopped off at a shop, walked at a snails pace etc. you may even end up getting in before him!

Original poster
Pipsquiggle · 17/04/2023 18:22

I think my DH was never left home alone in this way so doesn't think it's 'normal' - his DM worked at his secondary school so they always went home together.

I personally think they will be fine.

Great idea about the ring doorbell

OP posts:
PotteringAlonggotkickedoutandhadtoreregister · 17/04/2023 18:22

Mine does this now in year 6.

SouthLondonMum22 · 17/04/2023 18:22

carriedout · 17/04/2023 17:34

I think it is fine, as in not dangerous/neglectful in any way at that age, but if I am being honest my view is it is not ideal as it can be lonely/boring/worrying for them doing that every day.

So if you can afford childcare then carry on for a little longer, if you can't then they will be OK but maybe try to find ways to make it less often if possible.

Would childcare even take a child in Year 7? I thought that's when it stopped.

EyesOnThePies · 17/04/2023 18:24

Routine and normal amongst all my Dc and friends.

clipclop5 · 17/04/2023 18:24

At that age DD was 100% sensible and capable enough to be home alone but wouldn’t have wanted to be as she’d have been lonely. I didn’t start leaving her until she was 14 as that was the age she felt comfortable to be left

reluctantbrit · 17/04/2023 18:30

We started training DD after May half-term in Y6, the odd afternoon once a week from 3.30pm-5.30pm. Obviously we already left her at home for an hour or so when we went shopping since she was 9-10, you have to start small.

We had strict rules like her phoning when she was home, not opening the door etc, we checked also that a neighbour or the neighbour's teen DD was at home in case of emergencies.

Childcare for secondary school children basically doesn't exit, some schools have clubs but they can be cancelled and yes, there is the library but if they are on their own it's also not a lot of fun.

fortheloveofflowers · 17/04/2023 18:31

Mine is left alone from 14:45 until 6 or 8pm.

I was also left at home from that age. It’s fine.

Ohhelpicantthinkofaname · 17/04/2023 18:31

If your child is capable of getting the train alone they can be alone in the house for an hour.

dd2 was on her own after school for a bit from y6 onwards. It was fine.

redskylight · 17/04/2023 18:34

Pipsquiggle · 17/04/2023 18:22

I think my DH was never left home alone in this way so doesn't think it's 'normal' - his DM worked at his secondary school so they always went home together.

I personally think they will be fine.

Great idea about the ring doorbell

I personally think it will be fine too, but if DH doesn't think it is fine because he didn't do it himself, is he suggesting your child can't be home on their own until they are (at least) 16??

Bimbom · 17/04/2023 18:37

Cordeliathecat · 17/04/2023 18:20

If he is travelling home with friends then you’ll probably be surprised how long it takes him to get home. My daughter is a 20 min walk away from her school, yet it can take her up to an hour to get home by the time she’s chatted to everyone, stopped off at a shop, walked at a snails pace etc. you may even end up getting in before him!

Haha yes this is so true!

NeverDropYourMooncup · 17/04/2023 18:37

In an hour, he will have just enough time to

Drop his coat and bag on the floor as he walks in.

Remember to kick his shoes off after he's walked past the shoerack.

Abandon his tie somewhere between the hall and the kitchen.

Open the fridge and mutter about there not being anything to eat. Take a bottle of milkshake and a packet of cold meat out of it, leaving the door open whilst he ransacks the cupboards for crisps and biscuits.

Flump onto the sofa and switch his X-box on.

Get halfway through his first game as you walk through the door, step over his coat and bag, nearly trip over his muddy shoes, hang your coat, keys and bag up and complain that his blazer should have been hung up instead of stored carefully underneath the cat (who incidentally, now has breath smelling suspiciously of half a packet of ham, the packaging for which is now lovingly kicked underneath the sofa with the now lidless bottle of Frijj strawberry leaving little puddles on your finest carpeting).

He'll be fine. If there's food and entertainment, he won't have any need to make mischief.

crazyBadger · 17/04/2023 18:37

Absolutely fine... Boy has his key on a bungee cord clipped into his rucksack.... Hasn't yet forgotten his bag, we have gone through many pe kits and a few blazers... Sharpie everything!!!

ScarletWitchM · 17/04/2023 18:39

Depends on your kids maturity and how they would be but we started in y6 walking half way to and from school then when they started secondary waking alone in y7 and left alone for about 1-2 hours home alone after school with no issues apart from eating too many crisps 😂😂

Decafflatteplease · 17/04/2023 18:40

NeverDropYourMooncup · 17/04/2023 18:37

In an hour, he will have just enough time to

Drop his coat and bag on the floor as he walks in.

Remember to kick his shoes off after he's walked past the shoerack.

Abandon his tie somewhere between the hall and the kitchen.

Open the fridge and mutter about there not being anything to eat. Take a bottle of milkshake and a packet of cold meat out of it, leaving the door open whilst he ransacks the cupboards for crisps and biscuits.

Flump onto the sofa and switch his X-box on.

Get halfway through his first game as you walk through the door, step over his coat and bag, nearly trip over his muddy shoes, hang your coat, keys and bag up and complain that his blazer should have been hung up instead of stored carefully underneath the cat (who incidentally, now has breath smelling suspiciously of half a packet of ham, the packaging for which is now lovingly kicked underneath the sofa with the now lidless bottle of Frijj strawberry leaving little puddles on your finest carpeting).

He'll be fine. If there's food and entertainment, he won't have any need to make mischief.

Absolutely this @NeverDropYourMooncup !

Seriously though @Pipsquiggle it's really normal.

We had rules about making sure they have a key every morning otherwise they'll be sat in the porch 😂 cold snacks only, no answering the door etc.

Only you know your child of course, but on the whole, it should be fine. Especially if they are sensible enough to get the train etc then home should be a doddle!

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