What age can you leave kids together unsuperised?

[AMAZINWOMAN]

My kids are 10 and 12, who get on well together and are mature. (most of the time!)
Right now as I have a headache and am tired, Id love to go for a brisk walk to clear the cobwebs.

ButI have to drag my kids with me. And I mean drag. And then it wouldnt be a brisk walk! There will be an age where they can stay together-but when will that be?

Id also love to start night school-but it will be while yet

If they are mature then I would leave them. I leave my 9 and 11 year old for no longer than an hour - take my mobile and they know the rules - no answering the door, say mummy is in the bath is anyone calls etc.

I think the legal age is 14 yo but my neighbour policewoman and her friend the social worker say that they have never heard of anyone getting into trouble leaving DC of my age

I am pretty sure there's no legal lower limit in England, but Social Services might express an opinion. The only real legal thing is that you mustn't put them at risk, whatever age they are.

Surely a 12yo is old enough to walk to from school or the shops alone already (in theory), so could be left alone in the house for up to a few hours? In which case I would have thought 1/2 hour alone for the 10 yr old would be reasonable, too. I know a lot of parents who started leaving their DC alone for brief spells from age 8-9. Around here it's not uncommon for 10yos to take themselves to the swimming pool and home again, more likely if they go with a friend.

I regularly leave my dc 13 & almost 10, for short periods....I leave for work before they go to school and they both get home before me. I also leave them if I have to go shopping & they don't want to come. I keep thinking about leaving them so I can have an evening out...not quite ready to do that, in case they fight. I'm reliant on my parents for childcare when I'm at work (I work shifts) so I don't like asking if I'm going out.

I think you're right melontum, there's no legal age limit. It's the parents' call, are their individual kids mature enough to cope, are they safe?
I leave my 10 and 12 year olds briefly while I nip to the shops.

I was about to post the same as melontum.
there is no minimum legal age you can leave them.. I had a hypothetical conversation with our HV last babyclinic saying did that mean I could leave DS1&2 (aged 1&4) in a playpen would I be prosocuted for going to the post office.
She smiled and said that as long as there wasn't a fire and no one broke into the house then in principle that wouldn't be seen as legally wrong.
So go for a walk, clear your head, come back refreshed for your kindlings.

Thanks. I know i can leave them separately, but it was together I was worried about.

I have just had a bath-so im relaxed, but sometimes a brisk walk hit the spot. Next time i feel like this (luckily it isnt often!) i will leave them-the kids will be better off with me being refreshed

Guess it dependson the kids, do they tend to argue or encourage each other into mischief? If not, I think you're covered.

No melontum, they get on brilliant together.
I can leave them separately for short periods as they are both mature. But they get on well (occaisionally they do fight)

ds2 is brilliant in a crisis(if one happened) as hes so level headed and doesnt panic. Unlike me!!