CM Club - Urgent advice re 'home alone' please!!!!

[star1976]

After a bout of D&V throughout my family , contacted parents this morning to let them know that we are all back to full health and ready for work .

One after school child's mum called me to say that she had given her child a key to go home herself, but as I am now fine could I please drop her home and make sure that she can unlock the door as she sometimes has difficulties.

The child is 8 years old!!!

Obviously I am not comfortable dropping her off and leaving her on her own (and especially amazed that the mum was going to let her walk the 20 mins home on her own anyway).

What do I do?????? Mum said that she will only be on her own for about 30/40 minutes before she gets in from work. But that is still 30/40 minutes too long to me?

text her back saying you feel uncomfortable about leaving an 8yr old at home on her own, say you can have hr there for the 30-40 mins and mum can pick up from you.

You DO NOT allow this child to be alone.
You RING mum, as if you text, she 'can' say she didn't receive it, and anyway, some things are just too important to text. This being one of them.

Sally

do not be responibel for leaving this child - if anything happened it would fall on your shoulders

My 9 and 11 yr old finished with me and are now latch key kids and if they see me at the park they say can we come to your, it breaks my heart - but there is no legal age to leave children alone

I'd suggest she came to you too, even if it is only for half an hour or so. 8 is very young for her to be on her own.

I spoke to the mum and in the end I did collect her and bring her back here.

When I first starting having this mindee she told me that sometimes she stayed home alone in the holidays and, not knowing her well, didn't know whether to believe her.

Now I am thinking that it is probably true.

Worries me a lot. I won't leave my 11 year old step son in the house on his own, even though he goes to and from school alone.

Tis true Justabout, there's no legal age when you can leave your children alone. Its basically upto you.

However, leaving a child home alone can be considered by social services to be Neglect.
If anything happened... parents leaving a child home alone could face serious consequences (beyond any harm that comes to the child!).

Advice from the NSPCC regarding leaving a child home alone

I asked the mum if she needs cover for half term last week and she said that she had it covered with her and her husbands holidays.

Not I am not so sure that that is what they are actually doing!